Should ducklings sleep in the dark?

[DesertBird]

Cat food doesn't seem like a good option. Also, sorry to be that person, but. she's wild, right? Have you checked the laws around there? It wouldn't be a good idea to socialize her with humans and get her dependent if you can't keep her.

 

[DesertBird]

If she IS wild and you can't keep her due to permit laws and all that, PLEASE call a wildlife rehabber asap! They can get her on what she needs and prep her for release when she's old enough, as well as usually pairing them with any various mother ducks they get in and they don't charge for taking in animals. Cat food and bread is definitely not a good diet full-time for a duck, and while I haven't personally dealt with the issue, I can't imagine drinking and bathing in chlorine is good for them - especially such a young one. She's definitely a cute duck and it's very kind of you to try to help, but the Migratory Bird Treaty Act does make it illegal to take birds out of the wild unless they're unsuited for return. Just hoping to keep you and your wallet safe, as well as get the bird healthy. Was it near a pond when you found her?

 

[RasppberrY]

The cat food was recommended by animates because it has the vitamins and the right amount of protein. We do have chick starter but they said to feed her that when she's grown up a bit or 10-12 weeks old. So that information is what we've been going on so far.

 

[RasppberrY]

She wasn't near a pond, she was close by a river but we didn't want her to get eaten by water rats or anything like that.

 

[DesertBird]

Please get her on the chick starter ASAP - it may have the right protein count, but cat food is meant for cats, not for ducks. There's specific duck feeds and vitamins to give them when they're younger. If she was by a river, there were most likely other ducks; did you happen to look for them or see any?

Edit: also, chick starter is meant for starting and young birds - not really meant to start them on it at 10-12 weeks

 

[DesertBird]

I don't know if this is the best, per say, but it's personally what I used for mine. They have starter feed and vitamins.
http://www.metzerfarms.com/BooksAndEquipment.cfm?affiliate=undef&CustID=22054924&Category=Nutrition

 

[Raenh]

She really needs to be on chick non medicated starter now even if you make it mush so she'll eat it. Bread is not a good diet because just like in humans its empty carbs with no nutrients so it makes us and them full so that we don't eat the food needed with nutrients in it.

Where are you located?

 

[Raenh]

You can feed her mashed up cooked frozen peas not the canned ones - mash them up and let them cool completely. That will give her niacin.

And sugar sleeps with her neck stretched out when she sleeps with me so she can wrap her head behind mine. It's not on her side though, but different from when speedy would sleep perched on my shoulder.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@RasppberrY how is the duckling doing?

 

[RasppberrY]

The duckling is doing fine! She's grown so much over the last week. We're getting her to eat the chick starter and less bread.