Sick baby duck!!! URGENT! NEED HELP!

[kkbuggy]

Hi!
So yesterday I found a baby duck outside our coop. It seemed as though his mother had kicked him out. I put him back in her nest and let them be. I came back at like eight thirty and found him lying on his back in the mud peeping. I brought him home and we attempted to make him a nest. We don't have to time to run and get a heating lamp or things! What should I do to keep him warmer? I've been using heating pads. Also he lolls his neck around funny, but he is not dead. And he can't really walk! What should I do?!
And i don't know what to feed him because we don't have time to run to the store, like I mentioned...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi!
So yesterday I found a baby duck outside our coop. It seemed as though his mother had kicked him out. I put him back in her nest and let them be. I came back at like eight thirty and found him lying on his back in the mud peeping. I brought him home and we attempted to make him a nest. We don't have to time to run and get a heating lamp or things! What should I do to keep him warmer? I've been using heating pads. Also he lolls his neck around funny, but he is not dead. And he can't really walk! What should I do?!
And i don't know what to feed him because we don't have time to run to the store, like I mentioned...

He will need nourishment if you want him to live. chick starter or water fowl starter is best. dribble some water aloing his bill to see if it will take water but not down the throat. you can also put the duckling up to a small saucer and see if it will drink some water, never leave a duckling struggling alone with water though it could drown.
so this is your duck but you haven't any feed. heating pad will work wrapped in a towel and on lowest setting.

If you have oatmeal[not instant] you can grind some and put a little warm water on it an try to get the duckling to eat but you'll have to show it how mamas do this when they have them. the oatmeal will do in a bind but the little one really will need some chick starter or all flock feed soon like tomorrow if hatched yesterday.

 

[Orca5094]

This duckling sounds in pretty serious condition and may not make it, just wanted you to be aware. It is always worth it to try your best to save them though, they can sometimes surprise you.

Along with Miss Lydia's suggestions, you can also try to give him some sugar water to perk him up a bit. Just drip some on the end of his bill and see if he'll drink it for you (don't force it in his mouth or down the throat). Mashed up hard-boiled egg would be a good and easy source of some much needed nourishment right now before you can get him some food tomorrow as well. You can mix it in some water and see if he'll drink/eat some for you. Heating pads work pretty well to keep him warm for now as well. Good luck!

 

[kkbuggy]

We have had a break through. Scooter (the duck) has been eating! We have been feeding him the baby duck food and he loves it. I tried peas today and he is enjoying those. We had a near death experience however when he choked on a pea that was not completely mashed up. He is ok now but that was scary. I also gave him a bath. He enjoyed the water and I made sure it was shallow and warm. I dried him off gently with a blowdryer. I brought him back to the coop to see again if the mom wanted him and she walked right by him him. And the other ducks and the goose! AND THE GOOSE CONSIDERS HIMSELF TO BE THEIR FATHER! I noticed that Scooter was much bigger but weaker than the other ducklings who were already running and walking. I brought him back home and it seemed as thought that visit made him stronger. He stood up and walked correctly. And then started to run... for like ten seconds! He is quite the talker. Always peeping!

 

[Miss Lydia]

We have had a break through. Scooter (the duck) has been eating! We have been feeding him the baby duck food and he loves it. I tried peas today and he is enjoying those. We had a near death experience however when he choked on a pea that was not completely mashed up. He is ok now but that was scary. I also gave him a bath. He enjoyed the water and I made sure it was shallow and warm. I dried him off gently with a blowdryer. I brought him back to the coop to see again if the mom wanted him and she walked right by him him. And the other ducks and the goose! AND THE GOOSE CONSIDERS HIMSELF TO BE THEIR FATHER! I noticed that Scooter was much bigger but weaker than the other ducklings who were already running and walking. I brought him back home and it seemed as thought that visit made him stronger. He stood up and walked correctly. And then started to run... for like ten seconds! He is quite the talker. Always peeping!

That sounds like great news to me.. Too bad mama didn't recognize the duckling as hers but they seldom do. My gander before I got him geese for his family loved the ducklings that hatched here. But once I brought home a female goose that was it no more did he like ducks. lol

Very thankful your lil Scooter is doing so well, Congrats!!

 

[kkbuggy]

Hi! Thanks so much! He is running around a lot. We think he will make it (knock on wood). We play a game where I tap my fingers on the floor and he runs and chases them! So cute! Is it true that girls peep more?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi! Thanks so much! He is running around a lot. We think he will make it (knock on wood). We play a game where I tap my fingers on the floor and he runs and chases them! So cute! Is it true that girls peep more?

Not necessarily at Scooters age but around 4-6 weeks you should dif be able to tell if Scooter is female or male that is when the loud quacking begins that tells female from raspy sounding drakes. What breed is Scooter?

 

[casportpony]

What a happy story! I feared the worst as I started reading, but am relieved and happy he/she is doing better. Good job!

-Kathy

 

[kkbuggy]

Honestly, I don't know what breed. I know his father's mother was a pekin. scooter's father and mother are both crested and so is scooter and the rest of his siblings...

He may be a little bit pekin/mallard/crested but again I am not sure

 

[kkbuggy]

Thanks Kathy!