HoundsGood

When encountering and securing injured wildlife, the best thing to remember is “Warm, Dark and Quiet.” A plastic sided crate with blankets inside and around it is a quick option for small mammals. When they are in a warm and quiet place, they feel more secure and are less likely to further injure themselves before more help arrives.

Sometimes a rare bird has died, leaving behind a clutch of eggs or leaving behind young hatchlings. While I don’t advocate interfering with every baby bird you see, as often mother is close by watching, there are times when little ones are truly and verifiably abandoned when a mother is killed or dies naturally. Other times, a mother duck is severely injured and it keeps her babies safe while she is treated. (Just as an aside: A lot of folks wishing for pond ducks often never have to Buy Ducks, as there are farm rescues that have them. You can find ducks for sale when children outgrow 4-H also.)

If you run a rescue for waterfowl or regular encountered orphans, having an incubating box or a brooder box. What is the difference? An incubating box keeps the eggs warm until hatching and a brooder box holds hatched chicks to keep them warm and safe. Hatcheries have them, but you certainly do not have to be in business selling chickens or birds to have one on hand.

A brooder box typically is trapezoidal in shape so chicks or ducklings cannot hop out, and the shape also holds the heat in better than a box with straight sides. The top stays open so that air can circulate. Feeders are placed inside and a heat lamp helps keeps the babies warm until they are a bit older. Just keep them indoors and away from predators, just like a hatchery would. Just take care to leave enough space so chicks or ducklings are not crowded or stressed.

Also keep in mind that some people want baby ducks and chicks in the summer and at Easter. Please resist the temptation to buy one for that sole purpose or to randomly give someone one, even though some chicken breeds can be very beautiful. Interest is sometimes lost, and unless the person has other chickens or has been preparing for one, they might not be equipped to protect them against predators and to keep them safe. Backyard chickens and ducks can be great fun, but only if you do your research and can commit to them!

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