Rescue Duck[lings] need some advice

[Runner duck mom]

The only thing i can think about is to set up a temporary shelter in the Duckie's vacation home , i can run an extension cord from the patio and connect a heat-pad for them, but they need at least a little run-area for the day and that's a problem. That cheap-plastic fence is almost weathered away and won't contain a small duckling.

Their vacation home is cute, I'm sure you could get it set up nice and cozy for them as a temporary solution. With a heat pad and maybe partially cover with a tarp to keep out the cold.
If I remember correctly your neighbors have chickens...do they have any extra fencing or a pen that you can borrow until the ducklings are big enough to be with the other ducks?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thankfully your willing to take them back. Poor babies being hatched and then not being wanted. I think your lil Vacation cottage would be perfect for them and it will give everyone time to meet an get to know each other, that may not be ideal as far as roaming around but plastic fencing isn’t expensive so you could use some to make a small fenced area. I hope it works out.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

You need to start a new thread to compliment your Spring Duckling thread. “Fall Dumped Ducklings. Not a Recipe.”

It seems my blood-sugar level is too low again! I read: »Fall Dumplings«…
Definitely, if i take those duck(lings) in, there will be a seperate thread for them.
With plenty of pictures and videos and lot's of stories…

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I love your mama heat cave for the babies...next time I brood I'm going to be making one of those!
At least this neighbor is willing to be honest with you and offer them back. I can think of much worse ways they could have dealt with it.
Sounds like more fun ducky adventures for you this winter!!

As if renovating half of a house you have just bought is not enough of an adventure.
And yes, at least they have admitted defeat and not dumped the little ones on a lake, pond or at one of the countless creeks here.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I vote kiddie pool in the house with a heat lamp.
I used a large tote from Dollar Store and as they outgrew, we used the kiddie pool.
Lot of work to keep Clean but so worth it!
Maybe you can find suitable people who would adopt a couple as Christmas presents?...

I sincerely hope the ducklings are too large for a kiddie pool! They are six weeks old, tomorrow. And as i wrote the house or the garage will be a bad spot for a young duck to be very soon, we're going to put our christmas lights on scaffolding this year…
Dunno about life Christmas gifts, always had and always will have my doubts.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Can we get pictures of what they look like now? Also, unless something has just gone badly wrong for them, if they're in the pool in your house, they probably don't need a heat lamp. I mean, do you keep your house at temperatures below 50 degrees F? If not, they should be fine at your normal room temperature.

As for room, you might have to think about selling/gifting/harvesting some of your flock to create room. I know that sucks but space seems to be a factor here.

I will walk over to the neighbors this afternoon, have a look and take some pictures.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Nope bad idea giving anything alive as a gift if the person hasn’t ask for something living, then poor things are just back where they were before not being wanted.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Their vacation home is cute, I'm sure you could get it set up nice and cozy for them as a temporary solution. With a heat pad and maybe partially cover with a tarp to keep out the cold.
If I remember correctly your neighbors have chickens...do they have any extra fencing or a pen that you can borrow until the ducklings are big enough to be with the other ducks?

The materials isn't the problem: I have the fence (chicken-wire 2' tall) and i have some fence posts…
First that hillsite is soaked and slippery (i can't afford another broken limb now) and second i barely have the time to eat something during the day and it will take me a couple of hours to set up that house and the run. The whole flock is using their vacation home for duck-things, so i have to clean it out first…

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Nope bad idea giving anything alive as a gift if the person hasn’t ask for something living, then poor things are just back where they were before not being wanted.

And i have witnessed that with too many cute animals, from fish to lizards to puppies, kittens to a calf. Having animals is a commitment and a responsibility that must be taken seriously!

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

My drake killed a three month hen. She was small but he squished her. If you had just hens I would put them in at 8 weeks. Limpy probably isn't big enough to squish anybody. What size are your other drakes?