Rescue Mallard Duckling conundrum: crowd wisdom needed.

[sproink]

Hello my BYC friends.
I'm usually a lurker, not a poster, but I'm having a conundrum here!
I'm a librarian who lives on a farm in Saratoga County NY. We are north of Albany and not far from VT.
I have chickens and will be picking up some Orps this weeks to repair a flock.
On friday, a teen ran into the library and handed me a day old duckling. She'd wrested it from the jaws of a cat. I checked it out and it didn't seem injured and took it home and put it it my happy chick brooder.
I have had to handle it to wash a weepy eye with visine as recommended. Will try to find the Veti--- uh... veterinary ointment or spray. Sorry... focus on writing this asap. It wants to be handled, it's clearly lonely. Ducks are so social.
My conundrum is this:
Do I raise it with my chicks because I've handled it?
Do I give it to a rehabber?
Do I find someone with another duckling and raise them together (or a broody duck to take care of it)?

I def. want to do the best that I can for the little guy/girl. It kills me that it's so lonely.

Perhaps this is an opportunity to get into ducks, which is something I always wanted to do anyway.... but I can't , for the life of me, find any ducklings around here.

Help Help! This decision is a little beyond my expertise. If it were a chick, I would be more confident...
Thank you for your time. Private message me if you are even vaguely in my area.
Jana Versaggi
Galway, NY

PS to be fair, I am a rescue animal magnet.

 

[sproink]

PS I have called a wildlife rehabber, since it is the law.

 

[desertdarlene]

If the rehabber can take it, then I would give it to them. I'm sure they have hundreds they can raise it with. But, if not, you can raise it with your chicks if you think it's healthy. You don't want your new chicks to get sick from it. Or, you can give it a mirror and a stuffed animal to keep it company.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

I raised three baby mallard ducklings several years ago. Found them swimming in our swimming pool and could never find where they came from. Made them a little pen and kiddie pool pond.

The good thing is you cannot really tame wild ducklings. You can raise them, feed them, love them, provide for them, keep them safe, and when they get their flight feathers they WILL fly away.

I agree, if your rehabber has other ducklings to be company for this one that might be a better set up? But don't be afraid to do it yourself if the rehabber is prepared to think of you as foster mum.

 

[sproink]

Good point about the disease. I hadn't thought of that. That's why we hangout here, right?
I haven't heard back from the rehabber. Let's hope she returns my call, if not I am sure I can find another a bit further away. We live in a very wildlife-rich area, so rehabbers are usually within an hour or two of one another.
I also like knowing that the mallard will fly away. It's comforting somehow.
Thank you!

 

[sproink]

Update:
So I finally found a rehabber.
Duckling was very vigorous and healthy. The folks congratulated me on keeping him so healthy. Evidently he was a wood duck and few can keep those cuties alive. The stuffed animal made all the difference. I was sure to tell them about that and it was both surprising AND confusing to them.
I'm kinda looking forward to getting domestics now. Runners maybe.
Thanks for your help.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Yay to keeping him healthy! And yay to confusing rehabbers! Good for you.