I found a hurt duck, what should I feed it?

[kyrie217]

Hi all,

Around 6am this morning, I found a duck on the highway. She is injured but has no bleeding wounds and her wings appear to be fine - retracting normally and no wounds. Her right leg flops. She cannot stand and so far will not drink. She can lift her head but seems to not really want to and lets it flop around if you try to move her. She had been trying to drag herself out of the road by her bill when I found her. She hasn't eaten anything this whole time (5pm now), the farm supply place is closed Sundays, and all I can find on the internet is that I shouldn't give her bread but nothing really helpful. I don't own any other birds and don't know what to do to help her until I get in touch with a wildlife rescue that is open that has the time and the room, so far only one place has been open and willing to take her but it's in another state. I'll try again tomorrow but I don't want her to lose energy and be too weak to begin healing, if there is even a chance. Right now I have her in a small box with a little blanket under her in a quiet area away from everything so she can just chill.

My questions are:
What can I feed this duck that I can find in a grocery/pet store, or may already have on hand?
If the farm supply doesn't carry duck feed, what else could I give her?
What can I do to ease her pain and start the healing process while I'm trying to find a place to take her?
What should I do if nowhere will take her?

Thanks for any and all help!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi all,

Around 6am this morning, I found a duck on the highway. She is injured but has no bleeding wounds and her wings appear to be fine - retracting normally and no wounds. Her right leg flops. She cannot stand and so far will not drink. She can lift her head but seems to not really want to and lets it flop around if you try to move her. She had been trying to drag herself out of the road by her bill when I found her. She hasn't eaten anything this whole time (5pm now), the farm supply place is closed Sundays, and all I can find on the internet is that I shouldn't give her bread but nothing really helpful. I don't own any other birds and don't know what to do to help her until I get in touch with a wildlife rescue that is open that has the time and the room, so far only one place has been open and willing to take her but it's in another state. I'll try again tomorrow but I don't want her to lose energy and be too weak to begin healing, if there is even a chance. Right now I have her in a small box with a little blanket under her in a quiet area away from everything so she can just chill.

My questions are:
What can I feed this duck that I can find in a grocery/pet store, or may already have on hand?
If the farm supply doesn't carry duck feed, what else could I give her?
What can I do to ease her pain and start the healing process while I'm trying to find a place to take her?
What should I do if nowhere will take her?

Thanks for any and all help!

Do you think she may have been hit by a car? is she a wild Mallard? do you have any oatmeal? you could try her on a small amount using some warm water making like a gruel, chicken feed can be fed but I'd try to find a small bag since she won't be staying,. she might like a swim in room temp water, most of us use bath tubs. If a wild duck she may not understand what the oatmeal is but it would be worth a try. also whole canned corn with out salt or canned little green peas with out salt. anything right now to get her to eat, although she maybe in shock. so keeping her quiet and warm[ but not hot] is a very good idea .if no one will take her can you call some vets in your area sometimes they know of people who do rehab, or local animal shelters may know of someone. Bless you for caring.

 

[kyrie217]

I'm very sad to report she just passed away. I didn't think she was too terribly injured but I guess I was wrong. At least she passed in some kind of comfort instead of on the highway this morning by car or hot sun.

Thanks for responding, yes she was a wild mallard and I do think she was hit or rolled by a car. So sad.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm very sad to report she just passed away. I didn't think she was too terribly injured but I guess I was wrong. At least she passed in some kind of comfort instead of on the highway this morning by car or hot sun.

Thanks for responding, yes she was a wild mallard and I do think she was hit or rolled by a car. So sad.

So sorry but to have someone care for he made a difference I believe. Thanks for helping her.

 

[greggparker619]

Sorry your duck died, at least you did the right thing and tried to save it on your own.

I had a Mallard that pretty much lived in my pool for years that got injured, I made the mistake of trusting an organization called Project Wildlife in San Diego, CA. They just euthanized it within a couple hours, they didn't even try to save it. Other than an injured wing, she was OK. She would have lived for years in my yard/pool.

I will never trust an organization like that again, the process was rushed, systematic and heartless, yet they claim to love and help animals. What a sham!!!