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I found a baby goose or duck

Ducklings and goslings are what we call “precocial” babies. That means that very soon after they hatch, they are able to walk around, swim, and eat on their own. They still need their parents to protect them from predators, teach them about the world, and keep them warm.

Baby water birds are covered in fluffy feathers called “down”. The down might be yellow, brown, greenish, black, or white. They all have webbed feet to help them swim.

If you don’t think the baby you’ve found is a duckling or gosling, go back to our species selection page.

If the baby you’ve found has a bright orange beak and feet, it is probably a domestic baby (e.g. domestic goose), not a wild species. Check out our page on helping domestic animals.

Is the duckling or gosling injured?

A fledgling baby duck or goose with any of the following signs is injured and needs medical attention:

  • There are obvious wounds or blood on their body
  • They have had contact with a cat – even with no obvious injuries, this is a medical emergency for baby birds
  • The bird is lying on their side and cannot right themself
  • They cannot stand, walk, or run
  • The baby is covered in bugs or insects
  • The bird feels cold to the touch
  • The baby looks fluffy, “sleepy”, and doesn’t perk up or try to get away when you approach them.

To keep the baby bird(s) safe while you figure out how to help them, put them in a cardboard box big enough for them to move around with a soft towel or t-shirt. Even when indoors, or on a warm day babies can get cold or even hypothermic, so give them a heat source:

  • a clean sock filled with dry, uncooked rice, and microwaved for one minute
  • a plastic bottle or jar with a tight-fitting lid from the recycling bin filled with hot tap water and wrapped in a tea towel or face cloth (secured to the box so that it does not squish the baby)
  • an electric heating pad set to “LOW” and placed under half of the box.
  • chemical hand warmers (e.g. Hot Paws) that stay warm for up to 8 hours

Do not give them any food or water – right now keeping them warm in a dark and quiet place is more important. Contact a wildlife rehabilitator right away.

Baby mallard

Baby Canada geese

What’s normal

Ducklings and goslings are what we call “precocial” babies. That means that very soon after they hatch, they are able to walk around, swim, and eat on their own. They still need their parents to protect them from predators, teach them about the world, and keep them warm. Their mother should ALWAYS be with them. For Canada geese, their dad is usually nearby as well.

Do you see the parents nearby?

Goslings and ducklings can sometimes get separated from their mother. Babies must be able to keep up with the family group or they will be left behind; parents usually won’t come back for missing babies.  If the family group is still close by, though, it might be possible to get the baby back. Have a good look around — do you see any ducks or geese around with babies the same size? If the baby is healthy and active, and it’s just a case of getting them over a curb or around a barrier, see if you can get them back with their family.

If the baby can’t keep up with the family, or the family ignores it, or you can’t reunite them, contact a wildlife rehabilitator for advice. 

Gosling with parent

The babies are with their mother, but I’m worried they’re in a dangerous situation

If the babies are with their parents but you’re concerned because they’re in a pool, on a road, in a courtyard, on a rooftop or terrace, or in another dangerous spot, see our page on nuisance ducks and geese. It will help you figure out whether the family needs help, and how best to help them.

MYTH! If you touch a baby bird, its parents will not abandon it. Birds are excellent parents. All they want is their baby back.

I can’t find the parents anywhere

If the baby is found alone with no parents nearby, it should be considered an orphan. Contact a wildlife rehabilitator for advice. In the meantime, put the baby in a cardboard box and make sure they have a direct heat source. Birds that are bright and alert may be given a shallow (e.g. jar lid) dish of water with finely chopped dandelion, clover, grass sprinkled on top. Do not give it them any other food and never forcefeed water. Even though ducks and geese are water birds, they need their parents to keep them warm. Providing a deep dish of water can cause them to become wet and hypothermic, which can kill them. Further information on temporary care instructions can be found here.

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