Unexpected duck mama

[lillithlix]

Help, I've unexpectedly been given 4 wild ducklings that are only a few days old. I've never had ducks before so I'm completely out of my depth.

What do I feed them??

I've thrown together a makeshift brooder and they seem fine now, although I started with 6 and two sadly demised before I managed to set it up.

Any and all advice is appreciated.,

 

[N F C]

I haven't kept ducks (yet) but maybe these Learning Centers can help you out until you hear back from some of the BYC duck members:
ducks.30

Best of luck!

 

[Jpat]

You should feed duck starter or non medicated chick starter

They need heat 90 degrees for first week and 5 degrees less every week for mabye 4 weeks (mine were okay)

They also need water at all times deep enuff to get their beak and eyes in but not soak their whole body

We also require photos! and remember having wild ducklings is illegal so dont tell anyone around u

 

[CayugaJana]

I don’t know what the weather is like in New Zealand this time of year. Their brooder is going to be similar to your chick brooder. Just more water and wetter.

Do you have nutritional yeast in New Zealand? If so I would buy some and put a teaspoon full in their feed everyday. The niacin in the yeast is very important for waterfowl. In the wild they get enough through bugs, minnows, worms etc. But in captivity, it’s alot harder. Please post some pics! I bet they are darling!

 

[lillithlix]

We also require photos! and remember having wild ducklings is illegal so dont tell anyone around u

I actually don't know if its illegal in my country. I live in New Zealand (I just looked it up and it doesn't seem to be illegal. I can't find any legislation and vets give orphan duckling raising tips)

I'll take some pictures shortly.


We have nutritional yeast, yes. I'm going to see what I can find when I go into town in a few hours.

I've found some suggestions online on what to feed them, so I'm going to mix it up and give that to them until I get some proper starter food for the little darlings.

I did have a shallow dish in the brooder for water, however the 4 ducklings decided it made a better bed, so I crafted a different setup. I'll put up a picture soon.

 

[lillithlix]

Heres a picture. The waterer is in the background. Its just a fizzy drink bottle with the top cut off and 3 holes cut into the side. Fill with water to just below the openings and voilà. No more paddle and poop in the water dish.

 

[CayugaJana]

They look so cute!! Have any names for them yet?? Thank you for taking care of them!

 

[lillithlix]

At this point they're just "the Quacker's", no other names for them.

They've almost doubled in size already, I swear.



I've updated their enclosure and they seem pretty happy with it, for now. Its nothing fancy, I just made do with what I had available.

.

I have a cat otherwise they would have constant run of the big cardboard box.

 

[lillithlix]

These ducks are getting pretty big. I'm not sure exactly how old they are now, but they're much bigger.



Here they are on the couch after having a bath in the tub.

My son is absolutely enamoured with them and just wants to cuddle them all the time.

They have also acquired the names Huey, Dewey, Louie and Stewie. I just need different colour leg bands to be able to tell them apart.

One of the ducklings was making a quack like noise last night, more than the peeping they have been doing. Would I be correct in thinking that's most likely a female?

 

[lillithlix]

Such cute