Rejected duckling!!! HELP

[DuCKS333]

Just thought of this, could it have been a predator?

A great possible idea but the mumma and eggs are in a shut chicken house on their own. I don’t think any predators could get in… and I could see where the mumma had walked over the food to leave the egg? Is it possible she carried it in her beak??? She couldn’t have rolled it easily because the food & water were both in her path.

 

[DuCKS333]

I have a hen who is so mean when she is broody I have V shaped scars on my lower arm.

Yessss!! Mine is lovely until you introduce food into the picture or try to get her in at night then she becomes a human flesh eater!!!!

 

[DuCKS333]

I do have 2 extremely friendly geese & 2 other ducks (one being the father) but obviously these guys are all away from her currently. But all 5 (mumma duck, 2 geese & 2 male ducks) were brought up together last year and are the best of friends

 

[DuCKS333]

My current plan of action is to leave the duckling with me in the box with a heat lamp for the day (5 more hours or so) until I return from work and then I will try and reintroduce the little one with mum and stay very close by to watch.

If the baby is not walking by then it’s possible we have a problem on our hands… if that’s the case then reintroducing is probably a bad idea?

 

[Ursuline Chick]

If the chick is not walking by then, it may be the reason Momma threw the chick out.

 

[DuCKS333]

I am very much wondering if this is the case. I’ve hatched a brood before and usually I’ve seen them make more progress then this little one has so far…..
We had a duck who was acting the exact same as this one last year, rolling on the floor a lot and it’s little leg just wasn’t doing what it was meant to do and it couldn’t lift its head. We actually managed to rescue it with some essential poultry Vitamins and what my fiancé would call ‘duck physio’ and 2 days later it was right as rain.

This one is not lifting its head either… I’ll give it the rest of the day and update you on its progress! Fingers crossed.

 

[Miss Lydia]

The little one had a difficult hatch. It may take a day or two to get its legs working.

 

[DuCKS333]

The little one had a difficult hatch. It may take a day or two to get its legs working.

Should it go back with with mumma before the legs are working do you think? Or stay under a heat lamp until legs are going and then back with mumma?

 

[Miss Lydia]

If mine I'd give it time to get its legs working. A couple of years ago my Muscovy had 2 eggs she was brooding on and my hen had 2 duck eggs she was brooding on. 1 egg from each one was not viable so each hatched one duckling. I decided to give the one ducklings that hatched under my hen[chicken] to momma Muscovy she took it right in. This was the end of the day it hatched under my chicken. I knew mama chicken would be gentle with it so I wanted to give the duckling time to get its legs stronger.
I'd try with your mama by end of the day if the duckling is looking stronger you just don't want it to get stepped on by mama. When did it hatch? this morning? I'm thinking you are not in the USA? time difference.

 

[DuCKS333]

If mine I'd give it time to get its legs working. A couple of years ago my Muscovy had 2 eggs she was brooding on and my hen had 2 duck eggs she was brooding on. 1 egg from each one was not viable so each hatched one duckling. I decided to give the one ducklings that hatched under my hen[chicken] to momma Muscovy she took it right in.
I'd try with your mama by end of day if the duckling is looking stronger you just don't want it to get stepped on by mama. When did it hatch? this morning? I'm thinking you are not in the USA? time difference.

You are correct! I’m in the UK!

That’s great advice thank you very much. Yes it hatched this morning so 4 hours ago, but it wasn’t fully hatched when mum chucked it out. Just it’s head was out. The duckling has started shuffling a little but still not walking yet. Seems to be holding its head up for a second at a time.
It’s currently at my workplace with me under the heat lamp so i keep it here until 5pm in the uk (4 hours from now) and then try and reunite with mumma duck. See how that goes…. Mumma duck is a sweet duck just extremely stubborn and rough when she wants to be !