Will Mother Duck take Duckling back?

[dd62]

Hi all!

We live on a canal so we have tons of ducks and ducklings around that we feed. 2 Weeks ago one of the big males stepped on one of the ducklings and the duckling began hopping around on one foot, not being able to put pressure on the other. Well it wasn't able to walk correctly and got left behind by his mom. He did try to keep up but was unable to. I brought him inside and have been keeping him in my extra bathroom. His leg is finally healed, and I would like to release him back to his family. Will the Mother Duck take the dukling back? It will be two weeks tomorrow since I had brought him inside. If she will take him back, if i wait another week or two until he gets a little bigger will she take him back then? I see alot of mother ducks with less and less ducklings everyday so I want to make sure he has a good chance to make it. Any advice would be ver much appreciated. THANKS!

 

[KellyHM]

She won't take him back at this point...she won't have any idea that he belongs to her. Your best bet is to keep him...once they're raised in captivity they have a hard time fending for themselves.

 

[TheNewMrsEvans]

I would guess not...
I'd just wait until he was old enough to be w/o heat then put him back...keep an eye on him though...
or just keep him as a pet

what kind is he?

 

[dd62]

I would love to keep him but unfortunatly I don't have a yard to keep him in.

He is a muscovy. And I'm actually not sure if its a he or she, its still rather small. I think he is starting to like me a little, well he's at least stopped biting me. And he is so CUTE!