Creating a Brooder: A Temporary Home for Your Duckling

Providing a warm, safe space for a found duckling is crucial for their survival. Follow these steps to set up a proper brooder:

1. Prepare a Secure Container

• Place the duckling(s) in a container at least 16 inches tall to prevent escape.

• Line the bottom with a soft towel for warmth and cushioning, and if available, place a pee pad on top for easy cleanup.

• DO NOT cover the container with a lid—ducklings need fresh air.

2. Maintain Proper Warmth

• If the ducklings are newly hatched, the temperature on the sleeping end of the container should be 98°F.

• If you don’t have a heat lamp or another heat source, try:

  • Placing a heating pad under the sleeping end (ensure it stays on and doesn’t shut off after two hours).

  • Warming a sock filled with rice in the microwave and placing it near them.

• Add a stuffed animal or a feather duster for them to snuggle into, mimicking the warmth and comfort of their mother.

3. Provide Essential Comfort and Companionship

• If you are caring for only one duckling, companionship is critical for their survival. Ducklings do not do well in isolation.

• If the duckling peeps constantly, they are likely seeking comfort. To help:

  • Place a stuffed animal or feather duster in the brooder.

  • Add a small mirror so they feel less alone.

  • If possible, keep the container near you overnight to reassure them if they cry out.

• For single ducklings, the first night is a critical period. Anything you can do to help them feel safe can make all the difference.

4. Transport the Duckling to Us as Soon as Possible

• If you have a single duckling, getting them to us quickly is especially important.

• The longer a duckling is raised by humans without other ducks, the greater the risk of imprinting—which can prevent them from ever recognizing themselves as a duck and lead to lifelong loneliness.

What to Feed the Duckling

Important Feeding Guidelines

• Ducklings must always have access to water while eating, as they do not produce enough saliva to swallow food properly.

• If a duckling is cold and lethargic, they may struggle to swallow. While warming them up, offer a drop or two of honey to boost their metabolism and help them regain strength.

• Avoid feeding bread or crackers long-term, but if they refuse other foods, offering small crumbs can help them start eating before transitioning to a healthier diet.

Foods to AVOID:

🚫 Medicated chicken feed – May contain harmful drugs.
🚫 Artificial sweeteners – Toxic to ducklings.

Temporary Feeding Options (First 24 Hours)

If you don’t have duckling food immediately, you can offer these alternatives chopped, crumbled, or pureed:
✅ Lettuce and salad greens (finely chopped)
✅ Hard-boiled egg (no shell)
✅ Fresh-cut grass (untreated with chemicals)
✅ Kale, Swiss chard, radish & turnip greens (finely chopped)
✅ Cucumber (finely chopped)
✅ Peas (frozen, then thawed—not canned)

Safe Treats (Optional Additions):

🍅 Tomatoes (only the fruit—stems & leaves are toxic)
🍐 Pears (mashed or finely chopped)
🍎 Apples (no seeds, finely chopped or mashed)
🍌 Bananas (mashed)
🍑 Peaches (remove the pit)
🍒 Cherries (remove the pits)
🍓 Strawberries and other berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)