TypeAMommy
Hatching
Hello Duck lovers! I have a reputation of rescuing animals and yesterday evening a neighbor of mine called in a panic saying that she had found a destroyed nes, dead mother and egg shells surrounding one living baby hatchling mallard duck. I know the advice of most official agencies is to let wildlife live or die on its own and that it's just natural selection, but I can't say no to animals in trouble and so now we have Tyrion (from game of thrones--because this duck is small but mighty 
--of course we don't know if it's a boy or girl). He seems very healthy and happy. No feathers poking through, very small and round belly, so I am thinking that he did in fact just hatch before the tragedy occurred. I have read a ton of information here and I thank you for tha! I got addicted to turbos thread so I know you are all wonderful people. So, assuming I'm right that he had just hatched, I knew not to worry too much that he wasn't very interested in eating yesterday. By late evening he seemed mildly interested in a bit of applesauce and try to eat a grain of rice but didn't get it down. I had also offered him mashed up cooked carrots before I figured out that he probably didn't need food yesterday. He drank and slept well. It was hard to get him to sleep without being on my shoulder nestled in my hair though. This morning I went to Southern States and but unmedicated chick starter, NutriDrench and a heat lamp. I wanted advice on how to get this little guy to a point where he can survive on his own. Or is the mere fact that he is living inside at the moment going to keep him from ever being in the wild? We are in a subdivision, but have a fenced backyard with a small artificial fish pond. I have read that as long as they have a place to get shelter and food and unfrozen water in the winter they can survive without flying south... So the advice I'm looking for is the best ways to teach him to fend for himself while caring for him in the house. I put a mirror in his container also. I am certainly not getting another doc to keep him company but I do worry that since he might not have ever seen another doctor he will have no chance to socialize outside when he's old enough. Help!!
--of course we don't know if it's a boy or girl). He seems very healthy and happy. No feathers poking through, very small and round belly, so I am thinking that he did in fact just hatch before the tragedy occurred. I have read a ton of information here and I thank you for tha! I got addicted to turbos thread so I know you are all wonderful people. So, assuming I'm right that he had just hatched, I knew not to worry too much that he wasn't very interested in eating yesterday. By late evening he seemed mildly interested in a bit of applesauce and try to eat a grain of rice but didn't get it down. I had also offered him mashed up cooked carrots before I figured out that he probably didn't need food yesterday. He drank and slept well. It was hard to get him to sleep without being on my shoulder nestled in my hair though. This morning I went to Southern States and but unmedicated chick starter, NutriDrench and a heat lamp. I wanted advice on how to get this little guy to a point where he can survive on his own. Or is the mere fact that he is living inside at the moment going to keep him from ever being in the wild? We are in a subdivision, but have a fenced backyard with a small artificial fish pond. I have read that as long as they have a place to get shelter and food and unfrozen water in the winter they can survive without flying south... So the advice I'm looking for is the best ways to teach him to fend for himself while caring for him in the house. I put a mirror in his container also. I am certainly not getting another doc to keep him company but I do worry that since he might not have ever seen another doctor he will have no chance to socialize outside when he's old enough. Help!!
