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A friend of mine called a few minutes ago and had a question about trying to keep a wood duck chick alive until he can get it to a rehabilitator. He saved it about 2 seconds before it became cat food. Shortly afterwards he saw the same cat with one in its mouth, but it was too late to save it. Anyone have any ideas on what he can do? He has the food his neighbor feeds to chicks and captive ducklings, but he can't get it to eat and has only got it to take several drops of water. He has a call in to the rehabilitator, but hasn't received a call back yet. I've told him to try to keep it warm in the meantime. Any other ideas?

BTW, this is cross posted in hopes of getting him some help.

Circle of life.

It needs to be real warm- probably around 95, if it's that new. We keep our chicks at about 95 for the first week after they hatch. If it JUST hatched, it probably won't eat for a couple days. Ours stay in the incubator for 2 days before moving them into a crate with food, water, and a heat lamp. They live off the yolk for those first few days after they've hatched, with nothing else in the incubator- no water, nothing. Granted, this is for chickens, but I doubt ducks are any different. The food should say "crumble" somewhere on it, and look like beet seeds, or Grape Nuts cereal. You don't want to feed them any "pure" grain yet.

He said the food is very fine, but I don't know if it said crumble on it or not.

Sometimes, people will have ground corn for other birds, but it's not the best for chicks. If it says "for chicks" on the bag, I'm sure it's fine. All the chick food/crumble I've ever seen is for chickens, ducks, quail, you name it. It's just made to break down easier, since they don't have anything in their gizzard, and they're not very strong, yet. At least that's what I've always been told. Not sure how old it is, but our chicks never really eat much until 4-5 days after they've hatched.

Shoot the cat.

We always mixed crumble with some water to make a mash. Used it to raise some baby quail and doves we found. Warmth is the most important thing.

Their's a guy that lives down the street from my duck club that raises Mallards and wood ducks that were collected by CWA and D.U . He processes from 1500 to 2000 eggs in his incubators every year.He feeds all the duckling "Turkey Starter". They seem to love it and it wont brake the bank.

He just sent a text and said it didn't make it. He couldn't get it to eat and it only drank a couple of drops of water. Thanks anyway, it was worth a shot. Need to have a cat shoot now.

Go get them ditch tigers

sent from a phancy fone

Goldfish wrote:Go get them ditch tigers

sent from a phancy fone

I am going to tell your women you said that in context and then take the both of you out for a very nice dinner.

The Duck Hammer wrote:We always mixed crumble with some water to make a mash. Used it to raise some baby quail and doves we found. Warmth is the most important thing.

^^^ this^^^