Young ducks quickly lose touch with their family during their walks on land if they are disturbed by loose dogs or traffic. If there is no acute danger to life, the birds should be left alone.
How to properly raise ducklings?
To raise ducklings, they need a heat source at 20 degrees Celsius, fresh water in shallow bowls, food such as boiled potatoes, eggs, grasses, special food and soaked bread, and a dry and clean environment without drafts.
Don't act too quickly
Ducks in the garden are not uncommon in cities. If you find a seemingly abandoned chick, you should not act rashly. The mothers leave their young behind if they have been startled by predators such as cats, birds of prey or martens. In most cases they come back after an indefinite period of time. This can take minutes or hours. The family finds each other again through shouts. Since mallards are protected species and are subject to the Nature Conservation Act, collecting them is prohibited.
Avoid single rearing
Ducks are precocious birds that leave the nest shortly after hatching. They grow up with their peers and learn important survival strategies from each other. Therefore, ducklings must not be raised individually in human care. Such an approach carries the risk that the birds have no chance of survival in the wild after being released into the wild. Contact a conservation organization to find a suitable breeding site for neglected animals.
Feeding
Young ducklings initially feed on insect larvae. Later, meadow herbs and aquatic plants, grains and insects form the main part of the menu. Chamomile tea and soft-boiled vegetables that must not be seasoned are suitable for nursing weakened animals. If the young animal can run around the garden independently, it looks for greens, worms and snails.
You can feed this:
- boiled potatoes and eggs with cucumber
- small cut grasses, nettles and dandelions
- Special feed for poultry
- soaked breadcrumbs, provided they are uns alted
Tip
The little mallards need constant fresh water. Offer them several shallow bowls that are no more than three centimeters deep.
Rearing conditions
Ducklings need a heat source. The temperature should be evenly around 20 degrees Celsius. An infrared lamp with 60 to 80 watts creates optimal heating conditions in the first two to three weeks of life. Fresh and dry bedding is equally important so that the little ones don't get too cold. Make sure there is no draft in the room.
