Help, duckling! (Norwich)

[Crundy]

OK, odd problem. The wife and I came across a lost duckling, so we searched around the area for about half an hour to find it's mother and siblings with no joy. We noticed that it has a damaged eye, and so I can only guess that it either got lost a while ago or its mother rejected it because of the eye.

We bought it home to call the RSPCA to find a shelter for it, and were basically told they weren't interested. So is there anyone here in the Norwich area who can look after a (presumably mallard) duckling? I wouldn't feel right just leaving it somewhere.

[Two_Sheds]

There is, but for the life of me I can't remember who or where. Let me ask Himself.... it was near Horsham st Faith, he thinks. Sorry, no other details are coming back to us, it was a few years ago that we went

(she rescued owls, crows, ducklings, chickens etc)

[Two_Sheds]

Got it ! (well done Him)
Wing and a Prayer

[Crundy]

Thanks. Just called them but they seem to be closed so we've left a message.

Any tips on keeping him alive? Reading elsewhere I see he needs to be kept warm, and for food you can mash up either growers pellets or cat biscuits (??) in water and hand feed them?

[RichmondHens]

Did you have any luck with them Crundy?

[RichmondHens]

Just seen your last post, we must have crossed. How old is the duckling? A hot water bottle/microwaveable bean bag wrapped in a towel will give it a heat source short term, you could also try an anglepoise lamp over a cardboard box (have employed both methods in the past as emergency heating for chicks). Feedwise, mash up some weetabix or similar with water, and I would think chopped up boiled egg yolk would be ok too. Good luck!

[petal]

If you were any closer he could come to me. hot water bottle with fluffy cover sounds great and mashed boiled egg will do.we are not that far if you get desperate!

[Crundy]

Hi all.
Well, we took the little one to the sanctuary above, but for some reason he got ill just as we were getting in the car and died on the way feel really bad but I tried my best.

[RichmondHens]

Sorry to hear it.

[Two_Sheds]

it has a damaged eye

It's a shame that it died, I felt really awful about the starling I found on my lotty with a damaged beak (it couldn't feed itself, and I spent a fortune on mealworms and got it hand-tame).

I took him to the sanctuary but I have a feeling it died anyway - Nature does weed out the sickly, leaving the strongest animals to breed & pass on their good genes. Don't feel too bad