Wood duckling help

[86121]

Ok, im waiting to hear back from the rehabers but at the moment one of the wood ducklings in my care is screaming and jumping and flapping and omg its so stressed its making me stressed.
I understand that they are hard to raise/save, but does anyone have any tips for me while I wait to hear back from this woman?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ok, im waiting to hear back from the rehabers but at the moment one of the wood ducklings in my care is screaming and jumping and flapping and omg its so stressed its making me stressed.
I understand that they are hard to raise/save, but does anyone have any tips for me while I wait to hear back from this woman?

get an old towel put this over top of whatever you have them in kinda like mama duck would do if she had them in her care.

 

[86121]

get an old towel put this over top of whatever you have them in kinda like mama duck would do if she had them in her care.

Oh good, I already did that. The crate there in is covered by a sweater.
I have some lettuce chopped up, water, and game bird chick starter (non medicated)
I have the brooder set up, and it is as quiet as possible where they are.
Do you know why it is peeping so much, and if there is anything I can do to calm it without touching it to much?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh good, I already did that. The crate there in is covered by a sweater.
I have some lettuce chopped up, water, and game bird chick starter (non medicated)
I have the brooder set up, and it is as quiet as possible where they are.
Do you know why it is peeping so much, and if there is anything I can do to calm it without touching it to much?

No unless it is some kind of distress from not eating or drinking. when i had a duckling in the house last year, not my choice, mama duck didn't want it. I used a towel and when i held it I would put the towel over him just like he was under his mamas feathers. he would calm right down. Not sure about these ducklings since they are wild. If they are a couple days old though they should start to at least drink water. have you tried dipping their bills into the water or putting some along their bill where their mouths would open to see if they will take water? I know this has to be stressing you out also. Wish i could be of more help.

 

[86121]

No unless it is some kind of distress from not eating or drinking. when i had a duckling in the house last year, not my choice, mama duck didn't want it. I used a towel and when i held it I would put the towel over him just like he was under his mamas feathers. he would calm right down. Not sure about these ducklings since they are wild. If they are a couple days old though they should start to at least drink water. have you tried dipping their bills into the water or putting some along their bill where their mouths would open to see if they will take water? I know this has to be stressing you out also. Wish i could be of more help.

There literally no older then 24 hours. The people who caught them and chased mom before I ended up with them watched them leap from the tree.
Now there all quiet, jut contently peeping at each other. I think they have calmed down, but then again im a bit afraid to check and disturb them. I dont want them to start screaming again @_@

 

[Miss Lydia]

There literally no older then 24 hours. The people who caught them and chased mom before I ended up with them watched them leap from the tree.
Now there all quiet, jut contently peeping at each other. I think they have calmed down, but then again im a bit afraid to check and disturb them. I dont want them to start screaming again @_@

Well I'm glad they have settled down. why did they chase after mom, is that why she left her ducklings because she was being chased? How awful. You say you have called a wild life rehabber? are they going to take the ducklings. They will most likely know how to teach them to eat and drink.

 

[destinduck]

When they are little like that you have to get em eating and drinking as quickly as possible. You can handle them all you need. It wont hurt a thing. Dip their bills in the food and water every now and again. Dont stress.Woodducks are very highstrung!

 

[86121]

Well I'm glad they have settled down. why did they chase after mom, is that why she left her ducklings because she was being chased?  How awful. You say you have called a wild life rehabber? are they going to take the ducklings. They will most likely know how to teach them to eat and drink. 

Yup They did not know better and thought they were helping catch a domesticated duck that got loose from the farm. They did not realize that they were wild, or that there actions would result in the ducklings loosing there mom.
Yup, I called the Rehabers and now im just waiting to hear back from them. I hope they are going to take them, i want these guys to have every single chance of living! I dont want to be responcible for screwing it up.

 

[86121]

When they are little like that you have to get em eating and drinking as quickly as possible. You can handle them all you need. It wont hurt a thing. Dip their bills in the food and water every now and again. Dont stress.Woodducks are very highstrung!

If there only 24 hours old, I should do that tomorrow? I dipped everyone's beak in the water and food, but only two of them got the idea. Still didn't drink much, but they have been really stressed out today.
What do you mean by highstrung?

 

[Miss Lydia]

So glad to see destinduck here to help you.