Hello all-one of my coworkers has been taking care of a baby duck which he found apparently abandoned in an alley while on a walk with his family. Since he knows of my plans to get chickens when I move into my house, he has asked me if I will take it in. I will gladly care for it but I have no idea where to start!From the photo it looks like a Mallard, but I'm no duck expert! If it looks like a different breed could someone please let me know?So now I'm reaching out to my fellow bird-loving permies to help me get ready! I know I need to provide a kiddie pool and lots of shade, but what else should I get in the next week to prepare? Also, my house has a pool, but isn't it bad for them to swim around with the chlorine and chemicals? should I put up a little fence to keep it out of the pool? should I care for it until it's an adult and then let it fly away, or try and place it into a local lake that already has a duck population, or clip it's wings and keep it?Any input would be a great help- I am so grateful that I have such a wonderful group to come to to discuss all this fun and amazing stuff!thanks so much-Kristin
Kristin,
OMG-the duck is adorable!!! I had one as a pet when I was a kid. You don't want to let it in your pool--they poop continually, in the water and out, so you will definitely want to give it its own little pool where you can change the water often. Also, they can be noisy--are you in a place where the neighbors won't mind? Personally I love hearing a duck quack, but some people are grumpy about stuff like that. I don't think it will be able to go back into the wild since it will have imprinted on people and won't understand how to live as a duck, so you'll probably either have to keep it, or find it a home where it will be safe and cared for. Good luck with him/her! :-)
Judy
Replies
OMG-the duck is adorable!!! I had one as a pet when I was a kid. You don't want to let it in your pool--they poop continually, in the water and out, so you will definitely want to give it its own little pool where you can change the water often. Also, they can be noisy--are you in a place where the neighbors won't mind? Personally I love hearing a duck quack, but some people are grumpy about stuff like that. I don't think it will be able to go back into the wild since it will have imprinted on people and won't understand how to live as a duck, so you'll probably either have to keep it, or find it a home where it will be safe and cared for. Good luck with him/her! :-)
Judy