So this is new..

[ndcallahan]

Not sure what to do…. We have has a welsh harlequin and a Cayuga female go missing…. Would it be possible one of them is still around and hatching babies? This lil dude showed up this morning…

None of the current count of ducks seem to be taking on to it yet. lol

Do I just leave it be?

 

[Canadian Wind]

I've had a few of my ducks just go missing, and kept hoping that they maybe had gone broody and would show up with ducklings, but none never returned... That little one looks like it could be a mallard? Hopefully it has an adult taking care of it somewhere!

 

[lomine]

Unless there is a hen to transfer her oils to the duckling, it will get water-logged and drown. It also needs a hen to keep it warm. If there is no hen caring for it, I'd try to catch it.

If it was hatched it's possible it wondered away from the nest. I've had many hens sit on eggs but not care for the ducklings. In my experiences they wondered off and got too cold and died before I found them.

 

[ndcallahan]

Unless there is a hen to transfer her oils to the duckling, it will get water-logged and drown. It also needs a hen to keep it warm. If there is no hen caring for it, I'd try to catch it.

Even if it’s wild???

 

[lomine]

Even if it’s wild???

Yes. Ducklings can't make their own oils for a few weeks and they can't regulate their temps until they have feathers.

 

[lomine]

If you think it's wild, try to contact a local wildlife rehab. There are federal laws protecting migratory birds that come with big fines and jail time.

If you think it wandered off from one of your nesting, missing females, I'd try to find the nest. There may be more ducklings wondering around on their own. Some hens are good at hatching eggs but terrible at taking care of the kids.

 

[ndcallahan]

Haven’t found any sight of nest

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Not sure what to do…. We have has a welsh harlequin and a Cayuga female go missing…. Would it be possible one of them is still around and hatching babies? This lil dude showed up this morning…

None of the current count of ducks seem to be taking on to it yet. lol

Do I just leave it be?

Not sure what to do…. We have has a welsh harlequin and a Cayuga female go missing…. Would it be possible one of them is still around and hatching babies? This lil dude showed up this morning…

None of the current count of ducks seem to be taking on to it yet. lol

Do I just leave it be?

I had Welsh Harlequin x Khaki ducklings have wild type Mallard markings like that. So yes, she could have hatched him.
I second catching it. I am surprised the big ducks haven’t injured it yet.

 

[ruthhope]

Even if it’s wild???

Yes. I get waterlogged wild/feral ducklings every year to rehab and rehome