I just caught a baby duck, now wat!?

Question

it appeared in my dads pool one day.. we waited the whole day 2 see if its momma would come, but it didn't.. so we caught it and put it in a big box

i googled it, and it said give him fruit and veggies and water.. i cut the fruit and veggies in little piecies and gave it 2 it

i no its normal for it 2 be scared. but it looks terrified.. i dont want it 2 die, we were just trying 2 help it!

its so cute

is wat i did rite, w/ the food and stuff... is there anything else i should do??

Answer 1

block off the pool but leave the baby free may be with the box upturned and a doorway cut out for shelter the mum should return they use the same routes each day.

Answer 2

Ask a vet, not us.  Not too many of us have had a baby duck appear in our pools.....

Answer 3

Do you have a Nature Center nearby that you can take it to? If not, maybe a vet could give you some pointers. Good luck!

Answer 4

If you live in a Cave, Fry it on the fire and enjoy the meal, If you live in a house perhaps feed the duckling and keep it for sometime then let it go in a pond or call the animal shelter

Answer 5

Yes it was very right. And there's not much else you can do. I would keep it for a few more weeks and let go back into the wild.

Answer 6

Nendlin gave you good advice.  If the mother is in the area, it would be best to reunite the baby with it's family.

If that isn't possible:

Find a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.  There are many located in California.

Please use one of these sites to locate a rehabber in California:

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/rehab/fac...

http://www.ccwr.org/resources/carehab.ht...

http://www.ccwr.org/resources/

Here are other resources to locate a rehabber, and helpful wildife information:

Check this link for worldwide listings:

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact....

In the US, rehabilitation is regulated by the Federal government and State DNR (Dept of Natural Resources), or Dept of Fish and Game. Services are free to the public, as all native wild birds are protected by federal law.

There are several sites with listing of rehabbers, although the easiest way to find one is to search Yahoo! or Google for "wildlife rehabilitation" + your state (try both full and abbreviated). Also search on DNR or DFG + rehabilitation + your state.

You may be able to find a contact for a nearby rehabber through your local humane society, animal shelter, or police department.

Links are also available on these sites:

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/

http://www.greenpeople.org/sanctuary.htm

http://www.iwrc-online.org/

http://wrcmn.org/public/default.asp

http://www.wildliferehabilitators.com/li...

Until you can get it to a rehabber, keep the duckling in a large pet carrier, or cardboard box with lots of ventilation.  Do not handle it or play with it.  It needs to retain it's fear of humans.

Give it fresh water in a bowl which will not tip over.

Best of luck to you and the duck!

Answer 7

I have had this exact scenario happen to me! It's good that you took him with you, otherwise he would have gotten cold and tired in the pool over night and bad things could happen...

The two ducklings that I found were soaked through and were barely alive. Their mother and siblings had left them and didn't return after hours of waiting. After drying and warming them, they slowly recovered and were soon running and jumping about, but refused to eat anything that I gave them. But they would follow me around the house everywhere I went.

At night, I just kept them warm with a plush blanket draped into a little tent and a heater set on low placed outside of the box/cage. At 6:50 the next morning, I went outside with the ducklings, and the mother flew down immediately once they started chirping. Reunited! A story with a happy ending :)

I think you have done a wonderful job so far and have nothing to worry about. If the next morning the mother doesn't come, then you may have to bring the duckling to a shelter or rehabilitation center.

I wish you the best of luck!

...And to the age old myth of mother birds rejecting their young after humans touch them: THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNTRUE. Birds have a very poor sense of smell. They identify their young instead by their calls. This myth was probably designed help keep curious humans away from young wild animals.

Answer 8

Why did you touch it in the first place?  Was it damaging your pool?  The mother will probably reject it now that it has a human scent on it.  Good job gomer.