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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> Orphaned baby mallard in the hands of a teenager..
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Showing posts 26 - 50 of 57, (reverse)
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 05/29/2007 12:53:48 AM · #26
Wild bird (especially duck) young are hard to take care of. I think it's great that you want to though.

Tomorrow, call a vet. He/she will should be able to put you in contact with a wildlife rehab center. If they can't, they should be able to give you better care information than we can.

Let us know how it goes with your little buddy :-)
 05/29/2007 12:54:59 AM · #27
Very good advice.....

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Wild bird (especially duck) young are hard to take care of. I think it's great that you want to though.

Tomorrow, call a vet. He/she will should be able to put you in contact with a wildlife rehab center. If they can't, they should be able to give you better care information than we can.

Let us know how it goes with your little buddy :-)
05/29/2007 03:44:59 AM · #28
I recall a picture I saw YEARS ago of a dove on the side of the road, attending to its mate which had been hit by a car and killed. The dove would bring food and just stand watch. I think this went on for a couple of days and I don't recall if if was forcibly removed or left on its own. Doves mate for life, so to me it was very touching and very sad.
 05/29/2007 04:32:54 AM · #29
Hi, am replying because my sister who is an active member directed me here. I rescued a day-old mallard duckling a few years back. Mine had it's mom and siblings run over when headed for water. I read a book, "Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks" ISBN 1-58017-238-X or "The New Duck Handbook" ISBN 0-8120-4088-0. I also met someone at a pet store who coincidentally rescued and raised ducks. It was recommended that I get a terrarium with a heat lamp, cedar chips for bedding, water, and duck feed (which are small pellets of extruded material which is made to meet duck's nutritional requirements). You can find it at feed stores or some pet stores, check yellow pages to se if there is a feed store nearby. I live in NJ, hardly a rural state, yet they are still around. The cedar bedding has to be changed at least daily and they go through food and water fast. Eventually they will need a large home. A small rabbit hutch will do - get then from pet stores too. Major chains seldom have them, but small stores might, feed store often do. As mine got bigger (still small) i introduced it to water in a utility sink I had in an enclosed area. It happily swam in circles - like a duck in water :-). Eventually it got to fly across the living room. When of adult age, she was introduced to the wild at a lake in a protected wooded area with many other ducks. They quickly learn to feed on bottom vegetation and go off with the other ducks. It was a proud, but tearful moment. Please read the book, only part of it is needed to get you off the ground:-). I knew nothing either, but became knowledgeable in a short time.
 05/29/2007 10:06:23 AM · #30
I'd say the best thing to do is put it back where you found it; find an animal/bird rescue center/person to give it to; call a vet for advice if you have to keep it for whatever reason.
 05/29/2007 10:57:06 AM · #31
Duckling Care

If you are going to get ducks, it is best to acquire them when they are still ducklings. You should never attempt to raise only one duckling, as ducks are social birds. Mallards have a natural fear of humans, so you should plan on spending a sizable amount of time with them every day allowing them to get used to you. I didn't get my ducks until they were one week old, and they never have lost all of their fear, so they won't let me pet them. They will, however, peck at my hands and legs when they want a treat, and when they are in unfamiliar surroundings or frightened they follow me around as if I were their mother. A duck's peck doesn't hurt the way a chicken's does - it's more of a tickling sensation.
Ducklings need to be kept in an indoor cage with a padding of grass or a similar material with an artificial heat source if they are without their mother. After the first week you can gradually reduce the heating until they are at room temperature. If your ducklings crowd around the heat source this means they are too cold, and if they move away from the heat they are too warm. Comfortable ducklings will move around, eating and drinking. If the weather is warm, ducklings can move outdoors at around 2 or 3 weeks. Ducks will be fine in any weather, rain or shine, by 4 or 5 weeks. Ducklings being raised by their mother can remain outdoors without a heat source.
Ducklings should be supplied with water, but not enough to walk or swim in unless they are with their mother. Ducklings cannot produce the oil that waterproofs their down until they are 3 or 4 weeks old, and the mother usually oils their feathers for them. If they are allowed to swim before this without their mother they may become chilled or even drown.
You should feed your ducklings a combination of fresh vegetable greens (weeds from a garden are enjoyed immensely) and gamebird starter feed. You should NOT feed your ducks chick starter, as they will very likely get Angel wing

Message edited by author 2007-05-29 11:00:42.
 05/29/2007 11:20:47 AM · #32
Thank you for that information, NstiG8tr, because I had the duckling in a dish that he was swimming in.. I'll remove it right away.

There is only one duckling.. Should I borrow another duckling from my neighbor to keep him company? They only have the yellow ones.. But I know them very well.. Do you think that would help?

Normano, I will look for that book.. I should say, however, that cedar chips do not make good bedding for any sort of animal that I am aware of.. Even people working in lumber mills with cedar wood develop respiratory problems very easily.. For many animals, the same thing happens when they are introduced to cedar and pine beddings..
 05/29/2007 11:24:38 AM · #33
Also.. I don't plan on keeping this duckling.. I just want to make that very clear.
I'm not equipped to do it, and my grandfather has already told me that it wouldn't be a good idea long term. If I give the duck to someone who will raise it, the ideal thing would be for it NOT to become accustomed to humans.. That's basicly a promise of death for when the little guy gets released into the wild..
 05/29/2007 11:43:35 AM · #34
Originally posted by Beautiful-Joe:
There is only one duckling.. Should I borrow another duckling from my neighbor to keep him company? They only have the yellow ones.. But I know them very well.. Do you think that would help?


Sounds like you ought to give your duckling to your neighbour to look after.
 05/29/2007 11:45:08 AM · #35
I already tried it. He didn't want a thing to do with it. He has alot of ducks though. I've bought white ducks from him before, but they were already like.. Big. I've never had a duck this small before.
 05/29/2007 01:51:17 PM · #36
I think you are right about the cedar chips. I had a beagle one time that was allergic to them. They don't bother our lab (maybe cuz he's bigger?), but our poor little beagle couldn't tolerate them at all.
 05/29/2007 01:52:35 PM · #37
Joe - you've got the kindest heart I've ever seen - between this duck and your poor dead sparrow (or whatever it was). Good for you, and keep it up. It will serve you well in the future. Let it guide you.
BTW - I just added your âdoomedâ to my favorites. Very, very nice, and great emotional impact, even without the little story behind the shot.
05/29/2007 02:06:42 PM · #38
With the cedar.. Some critters are fine with them, and some are not.. I always say better safe than sorry, but we did use them on the stall floors when we had our ponies and the only trouble we ever had was with young foals. But my gerbils actually developed athsma (no, I did not get them inhalers.. lol) after I switched from aspen to cedar bedding.. I think I'm going to use straw for this guy while I have him here.. I'm hoping it won't be long.. Because I'm really not good at taking care of birds..

Shaman, believe me.. I can be a total brat if you catch me in the wrong mood.. You should have seen me freak out a few months ago..
XD
 05/29/2007 02:07:44 PM · #39
i'm laughing at the thought of gerbils on inhalers.
 05/29/2007 02:14:39 PM · #40
Heh, it kind of scared some people. I would hand them the gerbil to hold and the gerbil would hiss and wheeze.. All I ever heard was "You sure this is a gerbil?"

Heh.. Straw and a fleece blanket should do for our ducky friend for now..
 05/29/2007 05:48:43 PM · #41
I am very pleased to say that less than five minutes ago, our fluffy friend was siezed by a waterfowl care officer. He came to my house and said "You the kid with the duck? Alright, hand him over." I felt like I was getting arrested or something. Heh..
Either way, I'm confident that the little bugger will be taken care of properly and reintroduced into his natural habitat.
Now.. To clean up the mess he made in my room..
 05/29/2007 06:00:41 PM · #42
This might help:

Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
2530 Dale St
Roseville, MN 55113
(phone: 651-486-9410)
www.wrcmn.org

Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release, Inc. (WRR)
P.O. Box 28127
Crystal, MN 55428
(phone: 612-822-7058)
05/29/2007 06:01:28 PM · #43
o.o I don't have the duck anymore, but thanks anyways.
 05/29/2007 06:48:29 PM · #44
Originally posted by Beautiful-Joe:
I am very pleased to say that less than five minutes ago, our fluffy friend was siezed by a waterfowl care officer. He came to my house and said "You the kid with the duck? Alright, hand him over." I felt like I was getting arrested or something. Heh..
Either way, I'm confident that the little bugger will be taken care of properly and reintroduced into his natural habitat.
Now.. To clean up the mess he made in my room..


How'd they find out?
 05/29/2007 06:52:27 PM · #45
Joe,
You are a kind, compassionate person. You may not feel that what you did today is anything special, but it certainly is. Kudos to you. Here's hoping the little guy makes a successful transition back to the wild.
 05/29/2007 09:22:50 PM · #46
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Originally posted by Beautiful-Joe:
I am very pleased to say that less than five minutes ago, our fluffy friend was siezed by a waterfowl care officer. He came to my house and said "You the kid with the duck? Alright, hand him over." I felt like I was getting arrested or something. Heh..
Either way, I'm confident that the little bugger will be taken care of properly and reintroduced into his natural habitat.
Now.. To clean up the mess he made in my room..


How'd they find out?


probably the neighbor he talked to about it. Sounds like it's all worked out for the best though. :)
 05/29/2007 10:46:50 PM · #47
I think you are a very kind person Joe, and in doing what you did, you have learn't so much more about the care of our wildlife.
I only hope you got some nice image to keep, for you to have memories of the kind and wonderful thing you did, by taking care of this little duckling.....

Message edited by author 2007-05-29 22:49:50.
 05/29/2007 10:57:52 PM · #48
I agree with sherpet. You gave the baby duck more of a fighting chance.
05/30/2007 11:30:15 AM · #49
I did get two more pictures of the little fella inside of a box just before I handed him over. I'm sure my neighbor called the waterfowl center or something. I'm glad they're taking care of him. I do feel bad because one of the men in the car said the duckling looked thin. =x

Believe me, guys.. I'm an awful person. I hate people with a passion.. But who could resist that fluffy little face?
=P

I'll post up the other two pictures after I get back from the hospital if I'm still awake. I got attatched to the little guy, but I'm definitely glad he's somewhere else. He was a handful.. And I know he'll do better wherever they took him.
 05/30/2007 11:54:34 AM · #50
Originally posted by Beautiful-Joe:
And I know he'll do better wherever they took him.


Unless it was the local Chinese restaurant (mmm... pancakes...)

; )
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