Urgent!!! Found Duckling!!

[alaskaduckgirl]

Okay I found a baby duck in my yard about 30 mins ago. I put it in a box with shavings (white) and put a heat lamp over it with some sugar water and some duck food mash! I tried getting it to drink by dipping it's beak in the water and I think it is helping, the little guy is trying to jump out of the box!

What else can I do and do you think he will have a chance? He is still covered with down. Although he is very athletic. He will not stop trying to jump out of the box! ANY help would be appreciated!!

 

[chickensioux]

Lucky you, I wonder what kind it is. Sounds like you got it under control. Heat, water, feed not much else to do but enjoy.

 

[alaskaduckgirl]

Thank you, He is now drinking water on his own and grooming himself!

I will take pics in a couple of days when he is settled in!

 

[DuckFanatic]

Go look for it's mama and if you need to, bring the duckling outside so it can call to it's mom. If you don't find it, you got yourself a little duckling! Sounds like you've got everything you need

Post pics soon!

 

[alaskaduckgirl]

Before I brought it in I looked for it's mama, I walked a distance away from the duckling and watched to see if the momma would come, and she didn't after 20 mins. Plus we are about 3/4 of a mile away from the lake. The duckling was sitting in the grass looking around when I found it. I am wondering if an eagle picked it up and dropped it or something.

 

[DuckFanatic]

Looks like you got a wittle ducky! Congrats!

 

[kitkatbahr]

Wow, congrats on the new baby. Can't wait to see some pics.

Do you have any small chicks you can give it for companionship? Or, can you get another duckling at a feed store or something? They do MUCH better when they have live company. If all else fails, and I would do this anyway, find a soft, fuzzy stuffed animal to put in with it. Even an old beanie baby will do. My duckies have a beanie baby cardinal right now. Don't expect it to ever be the same again though. They poop on it, etc. so it will need to be cleaned off, etc. so make sure it's something you don't care to hang on to.

Anyway, good luck with your duck. Hope he/she does well.

Kathy

 

[alaskaduckgirl]

I put 2 little beanie babies in with him. I only have 4 week old ducklings and I am pretty sure that wouldn't go over well if I put him in there. They are HUGE compared to him!

eta: He isn't eating the watered duckling feed, he is only drinking the sugar water (although i added some dandelion leaf and duck feed to it). I am just worried he will die if he doesn't eat soon?

 

[ChickenToes]

Honestly, the best thing you can do is try to find a wildlife rehabilitator in your area. They can raise the duckling and then release it back into the wild, and it will have a good chance of survival.

 

[ExpLo721]

Unfortunately, I think it's too late for you to look for its momma. Once you touch a duckling, your scent is attached to it and the momma won't recognize it.