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feeding a baby duck?????

16 years ago

Hello, my husband saved a duckling this morning.Mother and sibling had a unfortunate cat attack. Our little guy was untouched, but scared.So of course I went to the web to try to find out how to care for our little guy.What I have found for information has seemed to be mixed on feeding and care.I would like to make this little guy healthy and happy.Any suggestions? I do not have a clue on how old this guy could be still has down, dark grey in color, maybe 6-7 inches long. my main concern is I am unable to get to a feed store for a couple of days and woundering what I can do in the mean time????(local pet store couldnt help me)any and all info would be helpful to this first time ducky mom.

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Comments (4)

Maggie_J
16 years ago
I'm not expert on ducks, but if you have any grain products in the house, ducky could certainly eat those until you can get to a feed store. I assume this is a wild duck? I would try a mix of grain (cornmeal, cracked or whole wheat,oatmeal, barley etc.) ground very fine in a blender or pounded in a mortar and mixed with water to make a crumbly texture. In a pinch, even whole grain bread broken up and soaked would be better than nothing. Add finely chopped dandelion greens and grass (make sure there are no pesticides or herbicides on them) and see if he will take that.

He needs constant supply of drinking water in a container deep enough to dip his whole head but not so deep he can fall in and drown. A bowl partly filled with pebbles works well... leaving a deep spot for dunking his head to clean his eyes and nostrils.

He is also going to need grit for his little gizzard... a clump of sod with the dirt attached or some coarse sand should do the trick for now. Ducklings are very messy and he will need his quarters cleaned out often. He will also need a companion or he will likely be very noisy... a lonely only will complain almost constantly. Sometimes a little stuffed animal or a mirror helps until you can get company for him.

It may be illegal to keep a wild duckling in your area... It might be best to call a wildlife rehab centre and turn the duckling over to them before you get too attached.
bocad
15 years ago
Can anyone please help me?
Approx how many times a day do you feed 3-4 week old ducklings? I have food 24-7 but they make more of a mess than eat. I give them a treat once in the morning and 1 more time when I get home. Tomatoes,Romain, Brocoli, red bell pepper and Crickets chopped really fine almost a puree. About 2 t-spoons for both Babies at a time.
Is fruit good for them? Oranges, Peaches, Mangos,Grapes and watermelon. I thank all that can help me!

Need help please I don't want to hurt or under feed my Babies Gizmo & Goldie
Thank You, Demetri
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I'm with Mother Duck, feed high in protein will cause them trouble down the road or even when they are young. They think angel wing is from foods too high in protein and they have all kinds of leg troubles with too high protein. Also corn makes them fat so they can't get off the ground to fly they say. I fed my others cracked corn or chops as they call it and they seemed to have no problems with it at all. Mine really really like what they call, Thunderbird. It has several different grains in it. But if they have been eating something else they will have to be given some mixed in with their other food and keep taking out more and more of the other food until they have all new food because they seem to like getting stuck in ruts on what they eat! lol They say rolled oats and wheat are good for them as well. Muzuri has something called maintance but I haven't started mine on that yet because I had a trash can full of food they had to eat up first. I feed my ducklings muzuri waterfowl starter and it comes in small balls and they don't waste it like they do the purina poultry starter. PLUS I was mixing the two and they would pick out the balls and leave the other and start squaking for more food. So they liked the muzuri better than the chick starter. PLUS it's FOR waterfowl! They do have different vitamin needs than poultry.
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msjay2u
15 years ago
I found an article on the net that answers some of these questions although they do not address how many times a day to feed them.

Here is a link that might be useful: how to care for baby ducks
bulldinkie
15 years ago
I raise swans,we take care of them after theyre born theyre prey to alot of animals.We get crushed feed at feed store,keep this and water on hand for him to eat whenever he wants,the feed is high protein for few weeks but then you must cut back or he will get leg problems.

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