HELP!!! Advice needed! Two ducklings in Phx, Arizona

[Goose-n-Moose]

Okay so we are in serious need of some advice.
Here's the story: my husband and I live in Phoenix, Arizona. We were on a walk around the manmade lakes in our neighborhood (they are surrounded by houses and a main road, very very suburban area with all kinds of groups and breeds of ducks) and we found an abandoned duck egg laying in the middle of the grass, about 10-15 feet from the edge of a lake. No nest in sight (trust me, we looked ALL over), and no ducks that were nearby seemed to take any interest. At our lakes there's a wide variety of ducks--Muscovy, Pekin, etc. as well as typical mallards, so we don't know the breed. We thought it might be a dud, test egg, or an infertile egg so we thought of leaving it, but didn't want it to get eaten/taken by a predator/chewed up by a dog (it would have if we left it just a few minutes longer) JUST in case it was fertile. So we took it and bought an incubator, etc. and it DID turn out to be FERTILE! It's growing well and on day 12 now. Then 5 days later there was a second abandoned egg in the grass, but MUCH more dangerously close to the lake. Like less than a foot, and so close to falling in. We took it home as well and put it in with the other. We've been turning them every few hours and they seem to be doing well. We SO want to keep them but can't because we have a tiny backyard and aren't allowed to by our HOA. Plus I've heard having "house ducks" is just plain mean. WHAT DO WE DO?? Do we release them back to the same pond after they've got their down feathers and are old enough? Maybe to find their families? Or do we try to keep "house ducks?" Or maybe look for a new home? Part of me wants them to be with their family and where they came from but I know we can't teach them to fend for themselves and that scares me.
Does anyone here live in Arizona or near who would be willing to take in two sweet baby ducks? We already care so much for these little ones and want them to have the BEST lives even if we can't give that to them ourselves
With sad hearts,
Moose-n-goose

 

[BlueBaby]

Even if you were to release them after they were fully feathered, whoever the parent's were wouldn't know that they were their offspring, and would not accept them or teach them anything. They would be at the mercy of anything that was fast enough to grab them if you know what I mean. I have chicken's, but I'm not set up for duck's. After they hatch (if they do), you might try Craigslist to re-home them.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Do not release them. They won't know how to survive, they'll be alone, and something will eat them.
It's possible, with considerable effort, to have happy house ducks.
You should probably rehome them, though. Or, and I don't think you'll like this idea, you could stop incubating the eggs and just... not have ducks to deal with.

For now, worry about a brooder. Heat, a proper food (one for ducklings, with enough niacin), a water dish deep enough for them to dip their whole faces in, all that good stuff.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Next time you see a duck egg laying around just walk on by it happens here with frequency my ducks(Runners) are known for just dropping an egg where ever it notion strikes. As for the ones developing I’d call local wildlife authority and give the ducklings over to them they will get them to a rehabber who knows how to get them prepared for survival once ready to be released. It’s very tempting to hatch that egg but if you can’t protect these tiny ducklings for life it’s better to just let nature take its course with these eggs. When first laid there is no duckling inside.

 

[bluemerle]

From my knowledge, Muscovies and Mallards are both broody breeds. Seeing as both of your eggs were laid wherever, I'd wager a guess you have domestic (likely Pekin) ducks developing. Which means releasing would .... be a bad idea.

If they do end up hatching, I'd get a brooder set up for them and then try to rehome them through facebook or craigslist while they're still little. Rehoming ducklings is a lot easier than rehoming adults.

 

[Goose-n-Moose]

Does anyone know a phone number I could call for a wildlife rehabber here in Phoenix?? I want to do the right thing here even if it's hard to give them up.

 

[DuckyDonna]

Does anyone know a phone number I could call for a wildlife rehabber here in Phoenix?? I want to do the right thing here even if it's hard to give them up.

why don't you post on your state's thread for that or call DNR?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/find-your-states-thread.270925/

 

[bhaugh]

If you have absolutely no intention to keep them, pull them from the incubator and stop incubating them. I know that sounds mean but plenty of ducks are abandoned by owners who had no idea the mess they make or the care they required and tossed them.
I hatch plenty of eggs. Many never make it out of the egg due to early death. The kindest thing for the duckling is to just stop incubating it.

 

[Goose-n-Moose]

One ended up not making it but the other hatched on June 1, and Penelope is as cute as ever I'm so glad I didn't listen to the people who told me to give up...she is the biggest blessing ever and brings us SO much joy! She's beautiful too. 1/4 Pekin, 1/4 runner, and 1/2 magpie duckling! She is truly one of a kind and I'm so thankful we kept her. If she stops needing us when she gets older well look for a happy farm with lots of other ducks to put her with, but until then we're loving every messy minute

 

[Goose-n-Moose]

She's 4 weeks old and insanely adorable.