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Birding/Wild Duckling -broken leg

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Expert: - 5/18/2009


Question
Hi - we rescued a baby duckling running down the freeway.  He has no feathers.  We've had him about 3 weeks.  Feeding him duck food only.  Now he is not walking around like he was.  We think he has broken his leg- he is in the bathtub on soft towels.  What can we do?  The rescues were too full to take him when we found him.

Answer
No feathers? At all? My first suggestion would be to take him to a bird rehab center but you have done that. Call your local wildlife officer for more advice and help. Meanwhile, commercial duck food is good. And something for him to swim in. See www.ornithology.com/rehab.html for more information. Thanks for your concern.

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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