Rescued wild Mallard Duckling: Pictures added!

[DucksnDaffodils]

So this morning my brother and sister were out back and heard some frantic cheeping, they thought it was possibly a baby turkey, and were trying to find it. Finally it popped out of the bushes, and our dog nearly pounced on it.. it was a little wild mallard duckling!! Looks to be about 2-3 weeks old. They brought it in to the duck lady me. I just happened to have a bunch of ducklings I hatched out in a brooder on the porch so I put it in their and kept an eye on it. The problem is, that my ducklings (20 of them at the moment) are only 5 days old, and the wild baby is quite a bit bigger than them. At first they were just poking at him, saying hi. But then he became more comfortable and began to be quite aggresive, grabbing beaks and wings and snaking out at my babies when they barely looked at him. So I put a wire up so he is with them but can't hurt them, and I am hoping he becomes more comfortable with them soon.

Not exactly what I was planning in my morning. I will be sure to post photos when I have them, he is a cute little guy, and really not scared of humans that much. We are afraid it's mother and family met a sad demise, since their were Coyotes howling around last night, and he was wandering around all by himself.

 

[MichStep]

Hope to see pictures of him soon!

 

[DucksnDaffodils]

Here is the little guy. He is still in solitary confinement at the moment, but he no longer charges the babies through the bars, and actually lets them lay down right next to him on the other side of the fence. So I am hoping by tomorrow to that he will integrate with him. I am happy that he is drinking some water from the dish, and I mix a little food in so he is eating too. For some reason or another,I called him Willy once (from the "wild" duckling maybe?) and it stuck. My sister said that once we release him then he will be free Willy

 

[smonkeySK]

What a little love
I had a similar experience with wild duckling aggression - they do calm down but they are very bossy!

 

[Speceider]

Just to say....you do realize taking them is illegal?

Clint

 

[MichStep]

Aww he's really cute!

 

[MichStep]

Just to say....you do realize taking them is illegal?

Clint

If the law found me out for the animals I've picked up and prank calls and Walmart panks I've done I'd be in jail!!!! LoL

 

[DucksnDaffodils]

Just to say....you do realize taking them is illegal?

Clint

Nope, I had no idea. My only thought was saving the life of this poor little lost duckling, before it got eaten by my dog, or died of cold and exhaustion. I am trying to be responsible, and will raise it with the ability to live out on it's own and hopefully this fall it will fly off and join it's own kind.

 

[steny03]

Nope, I had no idea.  My only thought was saving the life of this poor little lost duckling, before it got eaten by my dog, or died of cold and exhaustion.  I am trying to be responsible, and will raise it with the ability to live out on it's own and hopefully this fall it will fly off and join it's own kind. 

While your intentions are good, human raised wildlife live shorter lives and may not be able to live truly wild. They are also at higher risk of running into human/wildlife issues too which also adds to a shortened life.

It's also possible that something was wrong with it that the mamma recognized.

Sometimes it's better to just let nature take its course.

 

[DucksnDaffodils]

Thank you, I appreciate your concern, and completely understand the risks and issues you can run in with raising wild life, believe me. There is nothing wrong with the duckling, he is absolutely and perfectly healthy, he was simply very lost. I am not some sap that constantly interferes with wildlife and creation as God ordered it to be. This case was different, whether you believe or agree with me or not, and I was hoping to just share my experience and get some support possibly, or just make someone smile. I guess I should have kept it to myself.