Rescued ducks

[LilMissChz]

They are beautiful birds and they are lucky to have you. Thank goodness you could take them in. I just don't know what people are thinking??!! I mean, even in the wild, the babies just don't leave their parents until they are full grown. And most have at least 2 parents to care for them. Although with the case of wild geese, it's a whole gaggle that looks after the younguns. People are so **** dumb sometimes. Makes you want to slap the stupid out of them. Except there would be nothing left.

 

[desertdarlene]

Oh my gosh, I just rescued two that looked just like that except one was really small and one was really big. A heron was eyeing the small one to eat. Mine were starving, too, which is how I managed to catch them after they were released into the lake just before a rain storm. I had to give mine away a couple hours later because I live in an apartment. Last I heard about them was that they were going to go to another good place. I think mine were only fed bread, too, but they loved peas when I gave them some, but didn't care about oatmeal that much. I can't believe how stupid people are, these guys have no feathers! Yours look like they are also missing some down, too.

Like mine, yours are probably Easter ducks about a month old.

 

[Tahai]

Yep, you're right: Girls quack and boys mumble...you start noticing a difference somewhere between 3-6 weeks.

I only gave my ducks the water soluble vitamins for the first week of life (but they get brewer's yeast 2x a day). Your duckies had a rough start, though, so I would give the vitamins for at least a week, maybe two. Watch those legs - if they appear weak or bowed, or continue to cross, get the niacin supplement or some brewers yeast (do a search on it in the duck forum for info). Feed greens - and slugs, as well, if you can find any (at my house, the slugs are all over the dandelion greens, which makes thinks convenient

).

 

[renaenae]

I don't know what gets into peoples heads. Pretty sure they were Easter ducks. This is the reason I could never breed animals to sell--too many stupid people out there. They are missing a little down, but they were a little wet from going crazy in their water. Also on their necks the down was kind of stretched out a lot because their crops got so big from eating so much so fast. They are little sweet hearts--we love them.

 

[renaenae]

Tahai--I will give them the save a chick until I can get some Niacin. I'll do some research. I thought when we first got them they were pretty wobbly for their age, but we thought it was because they hadn't had enough room to walk. For some reason it never occurred to me that they would be deficient in vitamins--i know what they were fed. I think I was just sooooooooo ticked off. Anywho....tomorrow we're gonna try and give them some greens. We'll see how it goes. Thanks for the info.....

 

[Miss Lydia]

Tahai--I will give them the save a chick until I can get some Niacin. I'll do some research. I thought when we first got them they were pretty wobbly for their age, but we thought it was because they hadn't had enough room to walk. For some reason it never occurred to me that they would be deficient in vitamins--i know what they were fed. I think I was just sooooooooo ticked off. Anywho....tomorrow we're gonna try and give them some greens. We'll see how it goes. Thanks for the info.....

Make sure if you add greens or anything else other that starter that they get chick grit or have acsess to ground. Mine ducks love peas too,

 

[un-named543]

They are beautiful birds and they are lucky to have you. Thank goodness you could take them in. I just don't know what people are thinking??!! I mean, even in the wild, the babies just don't leave their parents until they are full grown. And most have at least 2 parents to care for them. Although with the case of wild geese, it's a whole gaggle that looks after the younguns. People are so **** dumb sometimes. Makes you want to slap the stupid out of them. Except there would be nothing left.

so true! These birds are so lucky to have OP!

 

[renaenae]

We have been giving them chick grit because they've had access to grass outside of their coop and some bugs that were in their pool. They got a nice swim today in some deeper water. Apparently they loved it--i missed it. So should I give them Niacin with the Save-a-Chick???? they aren't into the greens yet. we'll keep trying. Thanks for all the support.....