A clutch of mallard ducklings should never be taken away unless one is certain that mother duck has abandoned them. She may have been frightened off or she could be feeding nearby. When we are called to help we put them into a deep box with a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel. The box should be covered with a heavy towel. This keeps stress to a minimum on the journey. As soon as we are home they are put in a large duckling box on a bed of hay and an infra red lamp hanging overhead to keep them warm.A shallow dish of water and a dish of chick crumbs with finely mashed hardboiled egg and water added are left with them. Each duckling must be made aware of the food and water several times in the next few hours. They will soon get the hang of feeding. Finely crushed egg shell must be added to the food regularly to prevent calcium deficiency. The heat lamp must be left on 24 hours a day for up to 3 weeks. In the fourth week it can be turned off during the day.
At this time they can be introduced to a covered in outdoor pen in the day time. A large, shallow container of water, about 10 to 12cm. deep should be left in the pen and changed regularly. They will enjoy it and it is not too deep for them to drown! Ducklings that are reared by hand are not waterproof and will drown in deeper water. By getting wet they are encouraged to preen and this stimulates their oil glands to produce an oily wax. This will waterproof their feathers gradually.
From two weeks onwards they need green matter in their diet also. Chopped lettuce or broccoli in water is suitable.
Ducklings have many enemies when there is no mother duck to protect and train them. These include, drakes, gulls, magpies, hooded crows, cats, mink etc. Handling by humans should be kept to a minimum while they are being reared as they must be kept wild if they are to be released successfully. When their flight feathers are fully developed, at 8 to 9 weeks, they can be released in a pond where there is plenty of water weeds, insects and cover. Fast flowing water is not suitable as they will be washed away and separated.
A lone duckling would have a poor chance of survival. When this happens a friend of ours, who has free range hens and ducks, takes the duckling into his flock. Some time later, when the 'call of the wild' comes, the duckling will fly away!
Mallard ducks are described as ' dabbling ducks' as they are often seen feeding on the bottom of shallow ponds and estuaries with their tails in the air.
The adult drake is beautifully coloured, with a shiny green head, orange legs and feet and curls on his tail! In contrast the duck is mostly a dull brown colour.
