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#1
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Ducklings hatched in courtyard, will they live on grass alone?
Hello
I am working for a customer with a large courtyard. There is no pond or source of water. The only water comes from puddles left after it rains and runoff from AC condensation that exits through a rubber hose. The only thing that grows here is grass. The canadian geese that hatched a few weeks ago seem to be doing fine, they are constantly eating grass and have grown, but today I saw two very young duckings straying pretty far from their mother and they looked feeble. They were pecking at the grass but not pulling any of it. One of them was even pecking at goose droppings. I am wondering if they can live on grass like the geese, and if not, if there is something I can give them to eat. Any ideas? |
#2
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Ducklings hatched in courtyard, will they live on grass alone?
nedhart I am wondering if they can
live on grass like the geese, and if not, if there is something I can give them to eat. Any ideas? No, they can't live on grass alone. They need bugs! Here is a good explanation of duck nutrtition "Newly hatched ducklings feed almost exclusively on invertebrates. This includes everything from earthworms to small crustaceans, snails, and insect larvae and adults. Invertebrates provide a concentrated source of protein and fat required by a rapidly growing animal. By the time ducklings are about 2 weeks old, or one-quarter grown, they begin to consume a diet that is more adult like. In some species this is still mostly invertebrates; in others, it is mostly plant matter. Invertebrate availability influences where a hen will take her brood. Very often people find a mallard nest close to a particular wetland and then are concerned because the eggs hatched, but the brood never appeared on their wetland. Many folks think that this means that something killed the ducklings, but in many cases it simply means that the hen took the brood to another wetland that had richer invertebrate resources. Such wetlands may be as far as 3 miles away from the nest. The ducklings don't have to feed while they are hiking to the "brood pond" because they have a "yolk sack" that contains the remainder of the egg yolk. The yolk sack contains enough nutrient reserves to keep the ducklings going for about 3 days after they hatch. The need for invertebrates also explains why very young broods are seldom seen on large lakes. Because water levels are relatively stable on such lakes, nutrients do not recycle rapidly enough to support the large invertebrate populations required by broods. Also, such lakes are likely to hold fish populations that may compete with ducklings for the limited invertebrates available there. This is one reason that shallow marshes are so valuable to waterfowl production." From http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/help/faq/birds/duckseat.htm k30a |
#4
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Ducklings hatched in courtyard, will they live on grass alone?
live on grass like the geese, and if not, if there is something I can give them to eat. Any ideas? DO NOT, repeat, DO NOT feed them! You need to read the DNR site that deals with your area. There are laws concerning Canadian Geese. Lori |
#5
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Ducklings hatched in courtyard, will they live on grass alone?
I believe Ned is talking about ducklings.
"Lori" wrote in message ... live on grass like the geese, and if not, if there is something I can give them to eat. Any ideas? DO NOT, repeat, DO NOT feed them! You need to read the DNR site that deals with your area. There are laws concerning Canadian Geese. Lori |
#6
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Ducklings hatched in courtyard, will they live on grass alone?
I believe Ned is talking about ducklings. He spoke of Canadian Geese having ducklings, didn't he? I don't have the post now to check.... if I am wrong about what I thought, my apologies. |
#7
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Ducklings hatched in courtyard, will they live on grass alone?
Lori wrote:
I believe Ned is talking about ducklings. He spoke of Canadian Geese having ducklings, didn't he? I don't have the post now to check.... if I am wrong about what I thought, my apologies. No, there are Canada Geese doing ok, but two ducklings, which are not doing too well. |
#8
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Ducklings hatched in courtyard, will they live on grass alone?
It's the ducklings, and there is no way for them to get out. The
courtyard is closed in on four sides by buildings. So they're stuck with whatever they can find, which is cement and grass. I will use the information provided here to try to feed them. Thanks John Hines wrote in message . .. Lori wrote: I believe Ned is talking about ducklings. He spoke of Canadian Geese having ducklings, didn't he? I don't have the post now to check.... if I am wrong about what I thought, my apologies. No, there are Canada Geese doing ok, but two ducklings, which are not doing too well. |
#9
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Ducklings hatched in courtyard, will they live on grass alone?
Ned,
It's the ducklings, and there is no way for them to get out. The courtyard is closed in on four sides by buildings. So they're stuck with whatever they can find, which is cement and grass. I will use the information provided here to try to feed them. To be honest, you should try to catch them and take them to a rehabilitator. Barring that, fix them a place where the geese can't get into, and feed them cracked corn, and bread chunks. Lori |
#10
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Ducklings hatched in courtyard, will they live on grass alone?
On Mon, 16 Jun 2003 20:32:13 -0500, John Hines wrote:
Lori wrote: I believe Ned is talking about ducklings. He spoke of Canadian Geese having ducklings, didn't he? I don't have the post now to check.... if I am wrong about what I thought, my apologies. No, there are Canada Geese doing ok, but two ducklings, which are not doing too well. he little guys need protein or they will die quick. Feed them ASAP. Turtle and fish food will do in a pinch until you can get some duck chow. T Bob |
#11
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Ducklings hatched in courtyard, will they live on grass alone?
On Mon, 16 Jun 2003 18:42:46 -0500, Lori wrote:
DO NOT, repeat, DO NOT feed them! You need to read the DNR site that deals with your area. There are laws concerning Canadian Geese. The subjects was ducks, not geese. However, I am appalled at your advice about the geese. If I see a starving baby animal, the laws can go to the devil. What kind of law would kill an animal it was written to protect? Sometimes you must ignore the letter of the law and do the right thing. Bob |
#12
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Ducklings hatched in courtyard, will they live on grass alone?
I believe the confusion has to do with nomenclature..... Ducks have
ducklings..... Geese have "Goslings" Cheers! On Mon, 16 Jun 2003 19:53:46 -0500, Lori wrote: I believe Ned is talking about ducklings. He spoke of Canadian Geese having ducklings, didn't he? I don't have the post now to check.... if I am wrong about what I thought, my apologies. |
#13
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Ducklings hatched in courtyard, will they live on grass alone?
If they are trapped in the courtyard, then they definitely have a
problem... They would have depleted the food source the parents were banking on by now.... Usually this is when they start moving around to other areas... I shouldknow, I had to sit for 10 min in my car yesteday in the middle of a street in an industrial complex for a pair of geese w/ about 19 goslings to cross the street... Very Cute! I'd go w/ the turtle or fish food like oneofthe other NG members suggested for now, but call animal servicesin your areato have them removed to an appropriate spot... They won't develop properly ifthey are enclosed like that... On 17 Jun 2003 05:24:06 -0700, (Ned Hart) wrote: It's the ducklings, and there is no way for them to get out. The courtyard is closed in on four sides by buildings. So they're stuck with whatever they can find, which is cement and grass. I will use the information provided here to try to feed them. Thanks John Hines wrote in message . .. Lori wrote: I believe Ned is talking about ducklings. He spoke of Canadian Geese having ducklings, didn't he? I don't have the post now to check.... if I am wrong about what I thought, my apologies. No, there are Canada Geese doing ok, but two ducklings, which are not doing too well. |
#14
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Ducklings hatched in courtyard, will they live on grass alone?
Starter and grower food. Chicken chow is often deadly to ducks and geese. Get some and throw it over the fence. They have big appetites right now. |
#15
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Ducklings hatched in courtyard, will they live on grass alone?
On Tue, 17 Jun 2003 07:44:50 -0500, Bob Adkins
wrote: On Mon, 16 Jun 2003 18:42:46 -0500, Lori wrote: DO NOT, repeat, DO NOT feed them! You need to read the DNR site that deals with your area. There are laws concerning Canadian Geese. The subjects was ducks, not geese. However, I am appalled at your advice about the geese. If I see a starving baby animal, the laws can go to the devil. What kind of law would kill an animal it was written to protect? Sometimes you must ignore the letter of the law and do the right thing. Bob I rehabilitate wild orphaned birds or just raise fallen babies. If i didn't go against the law, i would have dead hawks several times a year, for i am forbidden to care for them without a Birds of Prey Liscence. I will never turn my back on anything in need of help. |
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