Rescued duckling not active? Help!

[Amiga]

Okay, that sounds better.

Ya know, if Han doesn't have other ducks, you are going to be his or her best friend and Han will be totally bereft when you are not in sight. To the point that it might cause behavioral or health problems. DenverDucky has a single duck, and they spend all their waking hours together, as far as I can tell. I think it is lovely. But it is not for most of us.

I pray it all works out. And I am NOT saying don't connect with Han, because I know that my ducks and I have really good connections, and it's been beneficial for all of us. But when I cannot be there, they have each other. Of course, it's obvious that they are my fan club when I come into sight

 

[dham]

Yea... I'm kind of a busy person and Han's rescue happened to fall when I had a lucky schedule to be able to have time to spend with it. If I can figure out whether Han is a a duck or a drake (crossing my fingers for duck) by this weekend then I can probably pick up a friend at one of the feed stores since this weekend is Easter. Sad that it means they'll have them but good for Han if its a she....

 

[Amiga]

A few of my runners started quacking at about three weeks of age . . . hugs to both of you.

 

[dham]

I don't know how old Han is. It's got feathers everywhere but wings and underneath them and its making a raspy peep... I'm guessing five weeks-ish?

Edited to add: Han's noises sound like a high pitched "peep-ack, peep ack ack" but aren't very loud.

 

[dham]

Here are a few pictures of Han out of the water. Any guesses to age or sex?

 

[Miss Lydia]

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!

that made me laugh out loud, them girls can really get goimng on the egg song can't they. I'm so glad to hear Hans is starting to feel at home.

Sexing works better if ducklings are very young but if you feel brave enough you might give it a try. be careful and be gentle as to not hurt Hans. http://www.metzerfarms.com/SexingVideo.cfm?CustID=980766

 

[dham]

Thank you for the video link! I watched it through and although Han is bigger I was able to get the cloaca to invert fairly easily and tried to coax out a *ahem* "part" and didn't see anything! Plus Han seems to be making noises closer to a quack. So I'm thinking I have a duckling not a drakeling!

I'm going to let her have a few moments and try again to verify.

Upon second look Han Solo is in fact a drakeling... Loud and clear.

 

[dham]

So, I hadn't noticed this earlier but Han won't eat or drink unless I put the food and water in front of him alternately... he isn't blind and I've repeatedly shown him where the food and water are. He just doesn't eat or drink without guidance. I actually noticed it because I was refilling the hen's feeders and checked his and nothing was gone... his is a shallow tray so it would be easy to tell and the water is clean, which I know to be incredibly suspicious for a duck... Any ideas? This has really got me confused...

 

[Miss Lydia]

So, I hadn't noticed this earlier but Han won't eat or drink unless I put the food and water in front of him alternately... he isn't blind and I've repeatedly shown him where the food and water are. He just doesn't eat or drink without guidance. I actually noticed it because I was refilling the hen's feeders and checked his and nothing was gone... his is a shallow tray so it would be easy to tell and the water is clean, which I know to be incredibly suspicious for a duck... Any ideas? This has really got me confused...

Other than sitting and watching him, I'd say he has to have eaten at some point or he wouldn't be here. poor thing needs some guidance, are you saying since you've had him unless you put the food and water right near him he won't eat? do you have any dried meal worms? if not see if you can pick up some show them to him let him taste them, I haven't heard of a duck yet that didn't like them excuse me love them once they get the taste, I even break them up and give them to my new duckloings, [just be sure if you offer anything to new ducklings beside their starter you offer grit, tiny chick size grit.] If you can get him to eat meal worms you can put a few crumble on top of his feed to intice him to eat. or maybe try adding a little warm water to a small amt of his food and see if he'll take it that way. never leave wet food out for long periods though it can mold quick. I'm stumped other wise.

 

[dham]

Yes, I mean since I've gotten him. Since someone has always been home with him thus far he has eaten at least five or six times a day. The whole house has fallen for him already. I'm just concerned that with the start of the work week for us is coming up he may not eat. I suppose he won't starve himself though. Hopefully he's just adjusting still and will get things figured out. I've already gotten attached and would hate for something to happen to him. I DID just get him girlfriends after all