Cat brought in a duckling

[Sky]

It's only tiny and I managed to save it, I don't think it's hurt.
I was just on my way out to work when I heard frantic cheeping in the garage and rescued the poor little thing, so I put it in a box and have just checked now I'm home again and it's still alive.
What on earth am I going to do with it, do you think I could feed it and it would survive ... what do ducklings eat?
I've sorted out a bigger plastic laundry basket for it now and put it inside a wooly hat and put a saucer of water in with it but think right now it's too terrified to want to eat or drink.
If it survives would it become tame and will it be ok around our chucks?

[evelyn]

Goodness me, my cats just bring me sea guls, LIVE ONES! they are not the easyest bird to get out of your house.

Do you know what make of duck it is? or where your fury friend got it from?

We kept duks and chuks together for years when i was a kid and they got on just fine so you have nothing to worrie about there, as i was a kid i dont remember what we fed the little ones on, but i do remember it came in a sack and when you added warm water it looked like scrambled egg with fine grain in it.

But to be honest i would try to find out where it came from and return it, it will be better off with other ducklings, and they do need a pond if they are to have a good life.

I hope the little one makes a full recovery.

Eve

[Sky]

Thanks for your reply evelyn.
No idea where our cat got the duckling from, I think it's a Mallard as I seen a few mums walking their broods across the roads around here. I was half expecting our cat to bring in the rest of my rescued ducklings brothers and sisters to be honest as once he's found a nest of anything he goes back until there's non left. He brought a succession of baby hares back last time.
I have chuck mash, will that do do you think?
Poor thing, I don't really have the time to be rearing a duckling but I thought if he/she could be saved easily I might have a go.

[evelyn]

I cant see why you cant feed it with chuk mash, it is always worth trying to save an animal, with a bit of luck it is a femail so you will get some eggs eventualy. Unfortunatly it is pritty much up to ducky wether it survives or not as you cant force it to eat or drink.

Just keep it safe and warm and put food and water out for it, you may want to try putting the food and water in shallow bowls though to make it a bit easer for your new friend.

It will need water to paddle around in/on, i am told that because of there stature( big brest) they need to get the wait off, i can understand this being a larger lady myself

Good luck with your ducky, and keep me posted as to how you are both doing.

Eve

[StripyPixieSocks]

Is there a local wildlife rescue centre nearby? You could call them and ask them to take it or at least find out how to feed the poor mite!

Just found this if you're interested... was just a quick Google search so I'm not sure it fits your needs exactly but:

http://www.duckrescuenetwork.org/duck_care.html

[Green Aura]

Found a dead snipe on the doorstep this morning. First I've ever seen - the bloody cat didn't even eat any of it. I'm assuming it was too big for him to get though the catflap.

[Sky]

Poor little duckling didn't even make it through the night, I didn't find any wounds on him but he must have just been that traumatised with the shock.
He was very cute and made me and the kids want to get some ducks to go with our chucks now.

[StripyPixieSocks]

Poor little duckling didn't even make it through the night, I didn't find any wounds on him but he must have just been that traumatised with the shock.
He was very cute and made me and the kids want to get some ducks to go with our chucks now.

Often happens, my wee blue tit chick I saved earlier this year didn't make it through the night (I cried like a baby next morning when I found him )

Often just being handled by a human can traumatise them so much they die but at least you tried and I know that's often not much comfort... it wasn't to me at the time but you did try and it's more than most people would have done!!

[hedgewitch]

Goodness me, my cats just bring me sea guls, LIVE ONES!

Jaysus!
How big's your cat?

[evelyn]

The ofending fury monster is a big ginger and white chap and the reason when i get my chuks that will be well fenced in as i dont think a chuk would pose much of a problem for him.

I dont know how he dose it, but the guls must be fairly stupid as he is bright orange and a cat.

So sorry ducky didnt make it, they dont do well with shock.

Eve

[Brij]

Sorry that the duckling didn't pull through.

I had a cat that used to kill rabbits that were about half her size again, she was a beast! Mum's cats still keep the local rabbit population down a bit, though they tend to go for the smaller ones. Sometimes they bring the tails back for any kittens that are around.