Oasis for Castaway Waterfowl

Creating a stress-free, lifelong home for water-loving domestic farm birds.

Rescue and Rehab

Our Oasis for Castaway Waterfowl is a new project for 2025, initiated by an emergency rescue of a one-month old domestic Pekin Duck, who we named Asteroid. Bought for someone as an Easter gift, then quickly discarded — Asteroid was left behind, dirty, hungry, and entirely alone. But she didn’t disappear. We rescued her.

Now safe in quarantine at our little Oasis, she’s warm, fed, and learning that she matters. We named her Asteroid because she didn’t fall — she collided with a system that treated her like a novelty, and broke free. She’s soft, vocal, and determined — a cosmic force in a little feathered body and our inspiration for a our larger Waterfowl Oasis.

Why do ducks need an oasis?

Ducklings are frequently sold at farm stores and purchased as “cute” gifts, particularly around Easter time. Sadly, the bubble of good intentions is quick to burst when the recipient realized just how difficult caring for waterfowl really is. They require constant clean water, warmth in the winter, veterinary care, and other waterfowl companions to thrive. This is extremely labor intensive and can be costly. Ultimately, these domestic birds are often cast away and abandoned in backyards or dumped at a local pond where the are unable to find the right type of food or defend themselves against wild birds and predators. They live in constant struggle for survival and their lives will be cut short from freezing, starvation, injury, or disease.

2025 Waterfowl Oasis Plan

We have surveyed an area at Mystery Meadows that will serve as a long-term sanctuary space for duck residents. Our intent is to purchase a barn, modified to provide winter-safe housing for six ducks. We have purchased two other similar buildings (for our resident chickens) from the same vendor and the buildings have been extremely reliable. We will also construct a large, predator-proof aviaries/run, purpose-built for an enriching duck habitat. One important feature will be a constant source of clean standing water for wading, bathing, and health requirements. We have designs for a drainable pond which will allow for the ducks to have access to a sizable amount of constant fresh water. Both the run and shelter will be large enough for the animal care providers to safely and efficiently access all areas of the duck sanctuary, allowing the team to keep the area clean and secure year-round.

Your donation directly supports the lives of animals!

The average cost to provide food, medical care, shelter, and other basic necessities is $100 a month for each duck! Your support will not only help us to provide those basic needs, but you will help us provide enrichment and special little luxuries to keep our residents happy and entertained!