Not really walking, eating, or drinking....

[ekofke201]

Hello, all. A friend called me today and said that a duckling had wandered into the outdoor arena on her farm, alone. There is a retaining pond with a few females in it, but it's almost 100 ft from the arena. We walked all around the property and could not find any trace of a nest.

It looks like it was just born today. It is just now starting to fluff up. It was initially 'greasy and wiry' looking. I set it up with a light and all of the right things... I had ducklings last year.

My concern is that the duckling is not drinking and eating enough. I have dunked its little face in the food and water (with nutri-drench). It seems uninterested in both. I am used to them drinking and drinking once they know what it is. Though all of my other birds have come in the mail. It is moving around. But I have yet to see it really get up and walk. It seems to be sleeping an awful lot.

Should I be concerned? Is it just exhausted?

 

[ekofke201]

bump...

 

[Miss Lydia]

bump...

If you think it just hatched today then it maybe tomorrow or the next day before it's interested in eating, they live off the yolk sac for a couple days after hatch. Keep showing it the food and dipping it's face in the water starting tomorrow, using the Nutri drench is an excellent idea I use it on all my hatchlings. also if just hatched it does take a lot out of them hopefully you'll see it perk up tomorrow also, if you can give the lil one a stuffed animal to cuddle with and if you have a bird safe mirror that may help it feed more comfortable. Sounds like mama and rest left and this one missed the boat, thank goodness ya'll were there to help. Keep us updated on it's progress, does it look like a Mallard duckling?

 

[ekofke201]

Yes, I am pretty sure it is a Mallard. There were several females in the adjacent retaining pond. But I think that something got the rest of the nest overnight and this one was a later hatch that came out after mom had abandoned the nest.

Is there any other reason that it would look so wiry and gooey other than after just hatching? So, it's possible that it is just satisfied with the egg and won't eat for a while?

 

[ekofke201]

Is it also normal that it is not able to stand?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Is it also normal that it is not able to stand?

Maybe, not really sure but I do know they can be a bit wobbly for a couple days till they get their legs under them. sometimes the membrane can be gooey on them so you might want to wash the duckling in some nice warm water working gently to remove what ever it is that's making it gooey looking, then be sure to pat dry and put straight under heat lamp to finish drying. No telling how long the lil thing was alone and the stress of it all may have just caught up with it, and then you have to realize there could be something wrong with it too, I'd say the next day or 2 will give you a better idea. make sure temp in brooder isn't too hot around 85 first week then 5* cooler each week there after. Is it peeping at all?

 

[ekofke201]

Yes, it was VERY chatty until I got it home and settled under the lamp. It is peeping very softly every 10 minutes or so now. It seems very comfortable under the light. Drinks a little when I move it to the water and dunk its bill. And it will play with the crumbles that I have sprinkled around eating a few pieces here and there. If it is a nutrition deficiency from being alone for a while how will that improve? Will it just eat and get stronger?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes, it was VERY chatty until I got it home and settled under the lamp. It is peeping very softly every 10 minutes or so now. It seems very comfortable under the light. Drinks a little when I move it to the water and dunk its bill. And it will play with the crumbles that I have sprinkled around eating a few pieces here and there. If it is a nutrition deficiency from being alone for a while how will that improve? Will it just eat and get stronger?

It will begin to get hungry, it usually takes a few days since the yolk sac is feeding them. It's appetite will pick up, how is the baby today?

 

[ekofke201]

So much better today! Thank you for asking. It is much more alert and mobile today. It is playing/ drinking the water and eating here and there. Another little one appeared this afternoon. We are still unable to find the nest. I am totally confused by the sequence of events here... The second one is in better shape and little larger. I think it had something to do with the weaker one's recovery as it was stronger and walking.

This is the original tiny before fluffing up...



Here they are about 3 minutes after I added the second one...

 

[Miss Lydia]

So much better today! Thank you for asking. It is much more alert and mobile today. It is playing/ drinking the water and eating here and there. Another little one appeared this afternoon. We are still unable to find the nest. I am totally confused by the sequence of events here... The second one is in better shape and little larger. I think it had something to do with the weaker one's recovery as it was stronger and walking.

This is the original tiny before fluffing up...



Here they are about 3 minutes after I added the second one...

Aww my gosh how adorable they needed each other. and thank goodness for you! keep me updated I think they will be fine now. and no telling how many more you'll be adding to your collection. lol