Thread: Paradise Duckling

We have adopted a paradise duckling that we found at the Beach. Bit of a back story.
I was out fishing and saw a family of parries on the ocean. Mum, Dad and a bunch of ducklings
Seemed far to small to be out there. My best guess is that they got carried out by the out going tide in the nearby estuary.
Next day we went around to the rocks at low tide and happened across this little duckling. I saw him out of the corner of my eye as he tumbled off a big rock. My son thought he needed rescuing so we went and found him. A short distance away we found a dead adult female parry. I think he was one of the chicks I saw when I was out in the boat.
Anyway we've had him for about 5 days now. He's very cute
Have any of you ever raised a parry duckling before?
Got any advice?

chicken starter from farmlands also small container pond wet/duck weed it can get in and out off. they love weed. A box with bit of hay to keep it warm. Might have to lock it in at nights
Last one we raised i put under a hen with a few couple day old chicks and she took it with no problems.
Things to look forward to is when it hangs on the door step and shits ever where

Originally Posted by bigbear

chicken starter from farmlands also small container pond wet/duck weed it can get in and out off. they love weed. A box with bit of hay to keep it warm. Might have to lock it in at nights
Last one we raised i put under a hen with a few couple day old chicks and she took it with no problems.
Things to look forward to is when it hangs on the door step and shits ever where

at which point it needs to eat ....err covered in brandy sauce

OIL your hands with cooking oil and preen bird....mum isnt there to do it and feathers dont work right without light oiling.... raised a couple as a young fella,they went in chook house as soon as big enough to look after self.
mates kids raised 2 a few years ago too and they did same as mine...hung around for ages,learnt to fly,hung around another week or so then took off never to return.
parries are graizing bird so will love the lawn.
have fun.

I have a couple of clucky hens and ducks at the moment, they will be happy to take care of it if you are unable.
Important to keep them warm at night with a heat source such as a red heat lamp as they would normally be tucked up under mum. Dont feed it bread. The yeast is hard on their little digestive systems and will kill them.

Originally Posted by Wingman

I have a couple of clucky hens and ducks at the moment, they will be happy to take care of it if you are unable.
Important to keep them warm at night with a heat source such as a red heat lamp as they would normally be tucked up under mum. Dont feed it bread. The yeast is hard on their little digestive systems and will kill them.

gives them "angel wing" too. basically deformed featherless wings

Cheers for the advice guys. We've been giving him a hotty at night. He sleeps in a bird cage in with us.
My mum has a clucky hen and young chicks but when we chucked him in there he didn't seem keen .I think he has fully imprinted on us now for better or worse

Photo , and the best of luck .

The little fella died yesterday.
We had him inside with us at night and thought he would be OK in the dog run outside in the day.
Stupid.
He was dead when I got home yesterday.
My fault and I feel so bad.
Been crying like a fucken baby.

Oh Bugger.
SO sad to hear that. The only observation is don't thrash yourself to death about it as you did all you could with the best intentions and improved the chances of it surviving far more than when you came across it..

Sometimes fate just decides that a life has to go despite the best efforts of all concerned..

We have had a few parry ducklings and raised them. They are beautiful birds and make great pets! Know how you feel as had one die on us and we were devastated as well. I must have shot well over a thousand ducks but its funny how its very easy to get quite invested in a little duckling and they become part of the family

Thanks for the kind words.

kindly post photos

I walk around Hagley park each day and have been tracking the progress of the Paradise ducklings. It's amazing how quickly they grow - you can see them getting bigger every day.

October 15th


October 19th


October 21st


October 28th


October 29th


November 3rd


November 11th


November 18th

One of my broody hens has done a good job of looking after 4 of my orphaned duck eggs..
Another one hatching at the moment..
Its quite comical watching mother hen try and coax the early hatchling back to the nest when all it wants to do is run to the creek and swim all day. It has got very friendly with the kids and follows them everywhere