How do you care for an abandoned wild baby gosling?

Answer 1

Well done. Thank you for your compassion!

Taking care of mallard ducklings can be a big task. They eat chick starter usually, and you can keep them in a cardboard box or similar with a heat lamp or hot water bottle. They have smelly, messy droppings and like to make a mess with their water.

For in-depth information, and help, please see the Sources and Related Links section further down this page.

Answer 2

Very carefully. No, I am only sort of kidding. Ducklings are very well known to imprint upon their earliest caretaker--you may wind up with a duck that has all the pretension of a parrot, meaning: it's certain it's a person and, never mind that, the person that parrot is is YOUR BOSS. This is because the duckling learns as much of its manner as it can from its first nurturer. This, actually, can be kind of fun. I am hoping your ducks are at least a couple of weeks old. Younger than that and it will be much more difficult. The proper physical things you need to look after a baby duckling are (researched and retrieved from an excellent, detailed article at http://www.howtodothings.com/pets-and-animals/a3728-how-to-raise-a-duck-as-a-pet.html. I suggest for full info that you also check it out):

• an artificial heat source,

• a playpen, or other, similar enclosure,

• some sort of indoor shelter to protect them from predators and the weather,

• a feed with 20-22% protein for the first three to five weeks (see the abovenoted website for lower protein percentages while yr ducklings age into their full duckhood),

• fresh chopped vegetable greens,

• water,

• patience.

• There is much more. Because of space and time constraints, while I have most certainly put you right on your road to duck parenthood, I urge you to do further research. Again, the abovenoted website is excellent for this.

Answer 3

I just got a pair of ducklings, and our plan for them almost seems too simple, even though this answer is long, I'm just explaining what my family is gonna do:

I don't think that it is best that you hatch them, because on this one site I don't remember, they said that ducklings need to see another duck eat before they know how to. For the first, maybe six weeks, they will need to stay indoors, so we just got them a huge plastic storage box. We used wood shavings as bedding which they like to chew on and try to eat, but then we found out that they don't digest it well, so I would recommend straw or some towels you never intend to use ever again. We use a plastic lid from a jar and filled it halfway with the chick food we got for them at our local feed store where we also bought the ducks for $5 each. There we also bought a water dispenser that only allows about 1/4 inch of water. You must make sure that they cannot get in the water because if they are being raised without a mother, they do not have the special oil on their fluff and they could die from being too cold. If they do get wet, you must dry them off as soon as possible. To keep them warm, from the first week they need their area to be around 98 degrees F. Then, every week after that, drop the temperature 5 degrees a week until they only need it to be 70 degrees. You can droop the temperature by raising the lamp. Ducks are social, so it is best if you get more than one, but make sure there is enough space for all of them. They poop a lot, so try to puck it out as soon as you can. They have very fragile bones, so don't hug or squeeze them. If you want to tell them you like them, do so by patting their heads, stroking their backs, or just staring at them. If you want to hold them, I think they like it better if your hands are flat but slightly cupped. Some will sit in you hands, but some prefer to stand. After you touch them, it is best you wash your hands because they will sit in their poop. If it is the temperature their habitat is, you can take them outside for short periods of time once they are maybe a week and a half old. Let them walk on a hard surface at this point to give them practice, otherwise they will not be able to walk normally. Once they are about 6 weeks old or so, they will have to move outside. You can build them one from wire Fencing and posts, or if you plan to do this many times, you can buy one. The fencing should be made of metal wire and the holes should be small enough to keep out neighborhood cats and dangerous snakes. If you want to keep them for the rest of their lives, I'm guessing they can keep living in this, just let them walk around your yard a bunch. My family decided that we will let them go once we are done raising them, so in the summer when they are fully grown, we will take them to a local duck pond where there are people will feed them every day, so hopefully, they will not have to compete or hunt for food, and their instincts and other ducks can teach them to survive.

It looks like a lot, but it's really not that complicated.

Answer 4

well its illegal. but if u really want to know its easier to get them when they are very yuoung and when they are not in water because they are very fast in water and not on land. like u can literally walk up and get em. the mother may charge but u stand ur ground make an angry face and sound shell run away. but i dont recommend doing that. ull go to jail or get a huge fine or even iother penalties. believe me ive learned my lesson. u can try at night or whenever but i hope iif u do it that u can deal with the consequences. itws illegal and i dont recommend it or support this. its just that noone ever tells straight answers.

Answer 5

Male ducks(mallards) do not nest. If you find the female duck nesting, let her be.

Answer 6

They need protection from cats, etc. Just water and grass and some chicken feed. Chicken scratch grain and maybe some chicken feed, not the pellets until they get bigger.

Answer 7

frist thing you need to do is take the animal to the vet.