Lindsay Carter
In the Brooder
- May 18, 2017
- 3
- 3
- 11
Hi, Everyone,
I live on a small hobby farm on a lake, so we are used to seeing tons of ducks and geese. I don't feed them; we just enjoy seeing them from afar and let them be. But, yesterday a seemingly disoriented duck wandered onto my driveway and just wouldn't leave. She seemed out of it, so I brought her a little bit of water, which she drank enthusiastically and then bam--she was all over me. I realized then when I got a closer look that she must actually be an adolescent duckling (I'm new to this, so I apologize for offensive terminology). She looks mostly grown but is still growing feathers.
Anyway, it's been almost 24 hours now, and she does not leave my side when I am out in the yard. I have not seen her swim or even go down to the lake on her own. It seems when I am not outside; she just rests underneath the car. I've provided baths and some fruits and veggies. She forages around when we take walks around the yard. I realize these are really social animals. Have I been claimed? I was thinking of getting another duck to keep her company and build a pen for her to stay in at night.
I guess my question is, is that the right thing to do? Should the duck be male/female? Approximately the same age? I'm guessing she is from the lake and wild, is it okay to domesticate her at this stage? It just seems that it already happened, albeit accidentally. And what should I feed her, how much? I'm doing a lot of research, but any suggestions are welcome. There's a lot of information out there, but I have not found much about this particular scenario.
Thanks in advance!
I live on a small hobby farm on a lake, so we are used to seeing tons of ducks and geese. I don't feed them; we just enjoy seeing them from afar and let them be. But, yesterday a seemingly disoriented duck wandered onto my driveway and just wouldn't leave. She seemed out of it, so I brought her a little bit of water, which she drank enthusiastically and then bam--she was all over me. I realized then when I got a closer look that she must actually be an adolescent duckling (I'm new to this, so I apologize for offensive terminology). She looks mostly grown but is still growing feathers.
Anyway, it's been almost 24 hours now, and she does not leave my side when I am out in the yard. I have not seen her swim or even go down to the lake on her own. It seems when I am not outside; she just rests underneath the car. I've provided baths and some fruits and veggies. She forages around when we take walks around the yard. I realize these are really social animals. Have I been claimed? I was thinking of getting another duck to keep her company and build a pen for her to stay in at night.
I guess my question is, is that the right thing to do? Should the duck be male/female? Approximately the same age? I'm guessing she is from the lake and wild, is it okay to domesticate her at this stage? It just seems that it already happened, albeit accidentally. And what should I feed her, how much? I'm doing a lot of research, but any suggestions are welcome. There's a lot of information out there, but I have not found much about this particular scenario.
Thanks in advance!
