Shelduck emergency help asap

FUDGEY · #1 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 07:58 AM

At work now on an endustrial estate and heard a comotion in small copse behind coldstore. Went in and crow came out with baby shelduck. Rescued the other 6 and got them in high sided box on top of bike shed beside where I found them. Seen adult nr half hour ago but no sign now. I'm 100 yards from river but can't release them there as 100s of herring gulls. What will I do? They are calling frantically. My boss has a small pond at his house with mallards, will they be ok there? Not sure if they can find correct food in freshwater or if mallards won't like them being there, plz help quick

Gill Catton · #2 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 08:16 AM

Hmmmmmmm tricky..... If you can't put them back where they were ( the odd one to a crow is ok and once the parents are back they'd defend them). Otherwise I would contact a local wildlife rescue place or maybe even your local British Trust for Ornithology as Shelduck do creche their young with other adults so if you could get close enough to a wild family you maybe able to add these youngsters to their brood and the BTO rep for your area may know a good place to do this.

posie · #3 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 08:49 AM

The parents should hear them calling (obviously) if you could put them near where they were and watch for crows. But guess as you are at work that's difficult for you.. Gill's idea of BTO sounds good, they'd possibly send someone out to take over from you..Good Luck...let us know what happens..

FUDGEY · #4 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 11:15 AM

Well after a lot of carry on heres what happened. I released them where they were found and stood a bit away and straight away a Carrion Crow was back at them. I managed to scare it off and captured them again and put them in a mesh cage so the Crow couldnt get them. I was hoping the female would come back and I was going to release them when she did, but after an hour standing ay a safe distance there wasnt a sign of her. I think the brood had split when the Crow had came 1st time and she had went with them. I went a run round the Estuary in car to try find some other broods around the same age, but only seen 3 different ones which were about 3 to 4 weeks old. I couldnt release them as my area is rife with Herring Gulls so as a last resort I took them to my bosses pond and put them in with his 3 ducks. The ducklings made a bee line for them and the adult ducks didnt seem to mind. Before I released them i googled to see what they ate and found small snails are part of the diet. This pond is polluted with them so we will have to see what happens. We have no rescue centres near by and the local ranger couldnt suggest any where appropriate. Fingers crossed, Ill keep you updated on how things go, ty for the help.

FUDGEY · #5 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 11:17 AM

Heres one of them.

posie · #6 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUDGEY

Heres one of them.

..Nice duckling FUDGEY..it's a pity you're so far away, now my mallard ducklings have flown, I could have taken them on my pond which is quite big...However, sounds as if they'll be ok, thanks to the effort you put in..and they'll feel at home as the other ducks are there.......Well done FUDGEY..

RKB · #7 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 12:02 PM

I'm sorry to say, but the major problem is that the ducklings need brooding, and the other ducks wont do this. Without brooding they are likely to die overnight (or even in a few hours) due to hypothermia.

Ducklings are not actually waterproof, and orphans should never be put onto water. They need to be kept like poultry chicks with a heatlamp, dish of water and 'chick crumbs' (commercial food pellets).

I'd catch them up again, and take them to a reputable wildlife rescue place. Ring St Tiggywinkles Welcome to Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital for advice and where to take them in your local area.

FUDGEY · #8 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 12:37 PM

Thanks guys, I doubt I'll be able to catch them again, but I'll try. It's a deep over grown pond and it might prove tricky. RKB, it's really warm up here at present and through the night I'm having to sleep with my window open, but that might still be warm enough? Pity you never got to read the post earlier, but like I will phone them up before I try catch them again. I'll get on it now and if there's somewhere near by I'll take them. Many thanks

posie · #9 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUDGEY

Well after a lot of carry on heres what happened. I released them where they were found and stood a bit away and straight away a Carrion Crow was back at them. I managed to scare it off and captured them again and put them in a mesh cage so the Crow couldnt get them. I was hoping the female would come back and I was going to release them when she did, but after an hour standing ay a safe distance there wasnt a sign of her. I think the brood had split when the Crow had came 1st time and she had went with them. I went a run round the Estuary in car to try find some other broods around the same age, but only seen 3 different ones which were about 3 to 4 weeks old. I couldnt release them as my area is rife with Herring Gulls so as a last resort I took them to my bosses pond and put them in with his 3 ducks. The ducklings made a bee line for them and the adult ducks didnt seem to mind. Before I released them i googled to see what they ate and found small snails are part of the diet. This pond is polluted with them so we will have to see what happens. We have no rescue centres near by and the local ranger couldnt suggest any where appropriate. Fingers crossed, Ill keep you updated on how things go, ty for the help.

No rescue centres nearby, and local ranger no help apparantly...A broody bantam (or chicken hen) would brood them for you, or as RKB said, a lamp...there must be somebody near you who has the gear /time to help you out FUDGIE, until you can get them permanently cared for, try a few smallholders' wives....or farmers' wives....Don't forget RKB said feed chick-crumbs at this age.....Let us know...Posie

RKB · #10 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUDGEY

Thanks guys, I doubt I'll be able to catch them again, but I'll try. It's a deep over grown pond and it might prove tricky. RKB, it's really warm up here at present and through the night I'm having to sleep with my window open, but that might still be warm enough? Pity you never got to read the post earlier, but like I will phone them up before I try catch them again. I'll get on it now and if there's somewhere near by I'll take them. Many thanks

Not warm enough - it's still much lower than their body temperature, and if they're wet too....