Rescued duckling not active? Help!

[dham]

Hi all. I rescued a young runner and it eat OK and drinks and bathes fine.... It isn't very active though preferring to just sit and look around... It is an only duck and the weather should be plenty warm as its around 70 in the morning and the duckling is nearly fully feathered... Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Amiga]

It could be ill, traumatized, depressed.....

As an only duck, I recommend you find it at least one, preferably two duckie friends. That is a bit of work, integrating a group, but well worth it long run.

If everything else seems normal, I would start giving poultry vitamins-electrolytes-probiotics twice a week for a couple of weeks. What feed are you using?

 

[dham]

A little background on it, I rescued it from the feed store cage it was in with two full grown pekins probably only a 2x2 cage. It was the only baby they had and I'm feeding a mix of chicken scratch and chick crumbles.... It's got a pool to swim in and is only active during its baths... I've had it two days now so maybe it's just adjusting? I'm hesitant to get it a companion duck because I can't keep it if it turns out to be a male as I have 6 laying hens and can't have it pestering them.... I just want the little thing to be happy. It's soooo cute and my first attempt at ducks since all my day olds mysteriously died shortly after receipt. I'm not even sure exactly how old it is...

 

[Amiga]

First, good on you for caring.

I would forget the scratch . . . calories, but not so many nutrients, and I would go nutrient dense with the baby. At least get a stuffed doll and an unbreakable mirror, maybe some quiet, sweet music playing.

And spend time near him or her, because especially if you need to rehome, a sweet, adorable boy is going to be easier to place. Don't forget endearing baby pics if you can take some.

 

[dham]

Thank you for the appreciation... We just couldn't let it get crushed seeing as the adults were quite afraid... Can't blame them. And I will try that. It's a little skittish so I try to hold it in small doses so it doesn't stress too much until it gets more used to it. Here's a picture of it in its pool.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you for the appreciation... We just couldn't let it get crushed seeing as the adults were quite afraid... Can't blame them. And I will try that. It's a little skittish so I try to hold it in small doses so it doesn't stress too much until it gets more used to it. Here's a picture of it in its pool.

I hope your Runner will be okay, like Amiga says it's probably trying to adjust and not having any other duck makes it difficult. Ducks do not carry disease like chickens can so unless you see visable signs of sickness i would place it where it can at least see and here your hens. Might help it perk up.

 

[dham]

I'm glad to hear they don't carry disease since I've cheated on the quarantine (just feel so bad for it). My coop is elevated and has a two foot tall space underneath that is surrounded with 1/2 inch hardware cloth which until little Han Solo came along the chickens had access to. Now that area has a hay bedding layer and Han gets to sit under there were it can see, hear and even lay near the hens during the day but at night it gets the huge dog kennel and a heat lamp with more hay bedding. And of course multiple swims daily. Right now is the first time it's let me hold it to snuggle!

 

[dham]

Thanks for all the input, by the way!

 

[Amiga]

You are welcome, and thanks for joining us here. By the way, sometimes ducks can carry germs or parasites, but I don't get overly worried if the horse is already out of the barn, to use an old expression. Just keep your animals healthy, and watch. Since the rescue was from the feed store, I would not be worried about it. From a pond, maybe a little more reason to watch for parasites, but not from a store.

And yes, anything is possible. But I like to try to limit my worrying to the more likely things. Don't always.

 

[dham]

Snuggle time seems to have cheered it up tremendously! Han Solo is now up and wandering about the yard peeping loudly and investigating! Hurray!

edited to add: the "egg song" scares the poor thing. It seems to think something is terribly wrong when the ladies start up. If one lays, they ALL sing. Haha!