Orphan Duckling - Advice please

[Olliethomas]

Hello everyone, I hope someone can help me.

I own a fishing lake in England.

Today whilst walking round the lake I noticed a tiny duckling completely alone struggling to swim on the lake. I watched it struggle for around 20 minutes, hoping its parents would return. I searched the rest of the estate for the parents but couldn't find them.

Certain the poor duckling would die over night if left alone, I scooped him up and have taken him home. The poor thing has one bent leg (explains the trouble he was having swimming) .... He doesn't seem to be able to even sit up and certainly cannot walk. Would the parents have abandoned this poor disfigured chick?

I now have him in a box with a shallow dish of sugar water and some finely diced greens. The duckling will not eat or drink yet. The ducking makes an excited cheaping sound and then goes silent and seems to want to rest. I have a small hot water bottle under some towels to keep him warm.

Any advice is urgently needed.

Thanks in advance


Ollie

 

[estamets]

It sounds like you're doing everything you can. Definitely keep him warm. Offer a dish of plain water in addition to the sugar water. Depending on how devoted you are to keeping him alive, you might consider tube feeding (there are some great tutorials in these forums).

I hope someone who is more familiar with ducks can give you additional advice!

 

[Olliethomas]

Thanks for your reply! I am fully commited to keeping him alive! Slightly nervous to tube feed having never done it before!

 

[estamets]

It's really easy (at least with chickens - never tried it with a duck!). If he starts eating on his own, don't do it. But you might want to gather your materials just in case he doesn't eat or drink on his own.

You'll need a 10-35 mL syringe, a small catheter tube (my vet gives them to me for free), in a very small gauge, and either baby bird food (pick it up at the pet store), or a raw, scrambled egg. Start by feeding water (with or without vitamins), then wait a while for his body to re-hydrate. Then give food, enough to fill his crop.

This is a great how-to: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...h-my-bird-pics-for-visuals-very-detailed-post

This little guy is lucky you found him. Best of luck!

 

[buff goose guy]

do not give him sugar water

 

[buff goose guy]

and what greens ?

pic of leg ?