PLEASE HELP STRAY TINY DUCKLING

[swampfox440]

I feed them live food such as tiny earthworms , we call red worms . How many do you have ?

 

[PeepOverlord]

Baby wood duck 100%

Is your icon what it looks like grown up? Got any hints/tips/tricks you can add?

 

[PeepOverlord]

I feed them live food such as tiny earthworms , we call red worms . How many do you have ?

Its just the one lone duckling that showed up while I was weeding. No iDEa where it came from, or how it survived a night + it's journey with the massive amount of predators around that are actively and constantly after my chickens.. nevermind the fire ants and snakes.
I'm having no luck finding a rehabber - know any in SE Louisiana?
Plenty of worms here. Anywhere you stick a shovel in. Is it old enough to eat little earthworms? Would it know enough to eat, or not eat a worm?

 

[Miss Lydia]

@PeepOverlord go here https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/ornamental-fowl-swans-etc.46/

 

[swampfox440]

Is your icon what it looks like grown up? Got any hints/tips/tricks you can add?

Yes it is thank you . I love wood ducks they are my favorite duck . If you have more than one it is much easier to bring them too maturity . I start mine on tiny baby earthworms . The duckling in the photo is at least 24 hrs. old the egg tooth has dropped off that is how I can tell . You can place it with a baby mallard and that helps it to learn to feed sprinkle some food on the mallards back that sometimes stimulates feeding in this species . But I have learned from experience that the movement of live food gets them going . you can also use small meal worms , drop tiny baby crickets in with them and observe . when you see them take one yay ! . Don't allow them to get wet and stay wet this can cause cold shock . Dry them with a towel after the swim . Keep them in a brooder like you would any other duckling make sure you have a screen on it so they can't jump out . How cute they are ! It's been 40 years ago when I raised my first batch . I still have a pair not from the original one but they are 6 years old . Good luck have fun and Wild ducks I love .

 

[PeepOverlord]

@swampfox440 The poor tiny thing being all alone breaks my heart but I have no ducks. Not going to gets ducks. Don't want ducks. I raise chickens. Chickens are easy. Really wish I had a mature broody hen right now but my chickens are only 4.5 moths old and the idiots would likely peck the tiny duckling to death.
Tiny crickets and little worms I can definitely find in my yard!!
I found a rehabber 100 miles away who refused to take it; too busy she says. And she refused to give any helpful info at all, so Thank Goodness for you guys! The other bird rehabber in LA I found, 195 miles away, I left a message.

 

[PeepOverlord]

@PeepOverlord go here https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/ornamental-fowl-swans-etc.46/

THANKS!

 

[swampfox440]

@swampfox440 The poor tiny thing being all alone breaks my heart but I have no ducks. Not going to gets ducks. Don't want ducks. I raise chickens. Chickens are easy. Really wish I had a mature broody hen right now but my chickens are only 4.5 moths old and the idiots would likely peck the tiny duckling to death.
Tiny crickets and little worms I can definitely find in my yard!!
I found a rehabber 100 miles away who refused to take it; too busy she says. And she refused to give any helpful info at all, so Thank Goodness for you guys! The other bird rehabber in LA I found, 195 miles away, I left a message.

If I lived within 100 miles of you I would be over so quick to pick it up, before you cold say Bobs your uncle !

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I'd keep an eye out for the mama wood duck. I can't imagine this tiny thing strayed that far (although possible) so maybe mama isn't too far away. If you take it outside, while keeping it safe, maybe mama duck will hear it and come to take it back. Just a thought

 

[HeatherKellyB]

The last member that had some wood ducklings abandoned on her property because mama duck was spooked by her daughter, updated that mama duck came back for babies a couple of days later. I imagine the mama to this little one is looking for this one so maybe hearing it's peeps will help her find it. You're doing an amazing job fostering this cutie