PLEASE HELP STRAY TINY DUCKLING

[HeatherKellyB]

I very much wish mama duck would wander in and take baby ducky with her!!! Mama duck > rehabber. I've been searching since 8am when ducky showed up - no other ducklings or any mama alive anywhere. It's been outdoors the whole time but only peeped when I first put in the mirror. Unfortunately, I have to keep it in the tote or it'll be dead in no time. We're out in the country - surrounded by hundreds of acres of sugar cane (and a fairly large river) *full* of wild and domestic critters whose life goal is to kill/eat my chickens and little old cat. This little duck is the luckiest living thing on the whole planet.

Goodness yes, please keep it safe and cared for. I meant if you were able to take it outside while keeping it safe. From what I've heard, Wood ducks have very camouflaged nests. Either way, keeping the duckling safe is the main priority. I'm so sorry I didn't clarify that better. You're doing a great job and if the duckling doesn't get reunited with Mama duck, it's just one of those things and I'm confident that you'll go above and beyond to keep this adorable little one safe I'd still keep an eye out for mama and any other ducklings. The case that happened last week happened in NC. I wish you and this precious duckling the very best

 

[PeepOverlord]

@swampfox440 YAY! I dug up some little worms, put them in the feed dish (plastic jar lid) on top of the feed - and ducky ate them. What a relief to know that at least it won't starve to death.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Is it warm by you? lil thing needs to be warm.

 

[PeepOverlord]

Goodness yes, please keep it safe and cared for. I meant if you were able to take it outside to keep it safe. From what I've heard, Wood ducks have very camouflaged nests. Either way, keeping the duckling safe is the main priority. I'm so sorry I didn't clarify that better. You're doing a great job and if the duckling doesn't get reunited with Mama duck, it's just one of those things and I'm confident that you'll go above and beyond to keep this adorable little one safe I'd still keep an eye out for mama and any other ducklings. The case that happened last week happened in NC. I wish you and this precious duckling the very best

I wish I could post a video. Its like a jungle here I looked up what/where wood ducks nest, hoping it would help. It did not. But I found this tidbit from Cornell Lab of Ornithology: "Chicks hatch alert and with a full coat of down. A day after hatching they leave the nest by jumping out of the entrance."
Seems like a terrible idea but ok.
So the nest and mama *have* to be nearby, no? I'm hoping when it cools off this evening, maybe just maybe, there will be a mama searching. Fingers crossed.

 

[PeepOverlord]

Is it warm by you? lil thing needs to be warm.

Its 95 in the shade. Ducky ate some little worms, drank water and is now napping next to the mirror on a bed of wood shavings, safe in a big tall tote. I can see from where I'm sitting, just in case.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I wish I could post a video. Its like a jungle here I looked up what/where wood ducks nest, hoping it would help. It did not. But I found this tidbit from Cornell Lab of Ornithology: "Chicks hatch alert and with a full coat of down. A day after hatching they leave the nest by jumping out of the entrance."
Seems like a terrible idea but ok.
So the nest and mama *have* to be nearby, no? I'm hoping when it cools off this evening, maybe just maybe, there will be a mama searching. Fingers crossed.

@swampfox440 will know more but I certainly wouldn't let it escape from the brooder if you take it outside. I believe the other lady just found Mama outside wandering around and looking.

 

[swampfox440]

Here is what happens . The mother flies when disturbed . The ducklings scatter into the bushes and grass . Later when the danger has gone the mother will return and make a little whistle call that tells them to regroup here . Now if you only have one I don't know if she will return . You would not believe how many of these ducklings are lost to snapping turtles, water snakes and after that they fly over the many hunters that only want to mount a wood duck on their wall . Most rescues result in a dead duck . The people that do this do not know how to feed every different species of wild ducks . Listen for the call .

 

[swampfox440]

Its 95 in the shade. Ducky ate some little worms, drank water and is now napping next to the mirror on a bed of wood shavings, safe in a big tall tote. I can see from where I'm sitting, just in case.

Yes you did good !

 

[Miss Lydia]

Here is what happens . The mother flies when disturbed . The ducklings scatter into the bushes and grass . Later when the danger has gone the mother will return and make a little whistle call that tells them to regroup here . Now if you only have one I don't know if she will return . You would not believe how many of these ducklings are lost to snapping turtles, water snakes and after that they fly over the many hunters that only want to mount a wood duck on their wall . Most rescues result in a dead duck . The people that do this do not know how to feed every different species of wild ducks . Listen for the call .

Will mama really know she has a duckling missing?

 

[PeepOverlord]

Here is what happens . The mother flies when disturbed . The ducklings scatter into the bushes and grass . Later when the danger has gone the mother will return and make a little whistle call that tells them to regroup here . Now if you only have one I don't know if she will return . You would not believe how many of these ducklings are lost to snapping turtles, water snakes and after that they fly over the many hunters that only want to mount a wood duck on their wall . Most rescues result in a dead duck . The people that do this do not know how to feed every different species of wild ducks . Listen for the call .

@swampfox440 Awesome info. I've been outside melting all day, keeping watch from a distance. All I'm hearing is the nonstop ATVs, fireworks, gun shots, blasting rap music, revving pickup trucks of people who have camps along the river. It will get much much worse tonight.
Is there any chance that tomorrow morning, mama duck will be around?
Should I drive ducky over to the river and look/listen for a duck family - or should I just wait here and look/listen? Is this the right sound?