Rehabilitating Four Hooded Merganser Ducklings

On May 28, 2017, Cummington Wildlife, of Cummington, Massachusetts, received four hooded merganser ducklings that were about 1 week old. The ducklings were thin and dehydrated, only weighing 65 to 70 grams.

After warming up the ducklings, they were given an electrolyte solution, followed by another helping 1.5 hours later. The next step was tube feeding the ducklings approximately 3.5 ml of EmerAid Intensive Care Omnivore three times within the first day. They responded well to the formula and rehydration process.

The hooded mergansers began self-feeding after the first day and no further tube feeding was required. These ducklings were successfully rehabilitated and released by Cummington Wildlife at the end of the summer.

Posted on April 4, 2018