First contact a wildlife rehabilitator . While you are waiting to hear back, the following instructions will keep the duckling or gosling safe and comfortable.
What to do while you wait
A dark, quiet place
Keep the duckling or gosling in a dark, quiet place indoors, in an enclosed or covered container. For most species, a cardboard box with a lid or towel draped over top is perfect. If your home is small, a closet or a bathroom is an excellent spot. A basement, heated garage, or spare bedroom will also work.
Keep children, pets, and people away from the room the duckling or gosling is in. Remember that they are frightened, and we want to keep their stress down as much as possible. Unlike our pets, wild animals are not comforted by people talking to them, petting them, or looking at them.
A heat source
Once you’ve determined a baby duck or goose is orphaned, getting it a heat source is one of the most important things you can do. Babies may have been without their mother days. Keeping them warm will reduce stress on their system, once their body doesn’t have to fight to keep its temperature up. Some examples of an appropriate 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
Re-heat water bottles and rice socks as necessary. Once they have something warm to snuggle up to, most orphaned baby ducks and geese will go right to sleep.
Guidelines on food and water
If the baby is off-balance, looks “sleepy”, or is lethargic, no food or water should be offered as the baby may fall into it and get wet which can lead to hypothermia.
If the baby is bright and alert, a shallow dish (e.g. jar lid) of water may be offered in the box with the baby. You can sprinkle finely chopped pieces of clover and dandelion from your yard in the water.
Why shouldn’t I feed it anything else?
- If the duckling or gosling is dehydrated, starving, or suffering from trauma, its body may not be strong enough to digest food. Trying to feed it can cause bloating, shock, or death.
- Trying to force-feed food or water can accidentally end up with the liquid in the animal’s lungs. This can cause pneumonia, and death.
- If you feed the wrong food to the wrong species, it can cause serious digestive problems.
- Once you get the baby duck or goose to a wildlife rehabilitator, they will need to assess its condition and maybe run some medical tests. These are a lot easier to do if the animal hasn’t been eating. It’s just like when your doctor or veterinarian asks you or your pet not to eat the night before an appointment.
Why only a shallow lid of water?
- If the duckling or gosling is injured and having trouble standing, or if it panics trying to get out, it could fall into the water dish. This can cause hypothermia, or even drowning.
- Trying to force-feed water can accidentally end up with the liquid in the animal’s lungs. This can cause pneumonia, and death.
- Ducklings and goslings are naturally drawn to water, and will try to sit in it or swim in it. That’s normal for them, but without their mother to keep them warm they can become hypothermic. Best to keep them dry until you can find them help.