Tips for raising a single duckling?

cheese17 said:

So from what I've heard, it's not exactly a good idea to raise a duck by itself, you have to have another duckling to keep it company. Unfortunately I don't have the money and resources for that, so I was wondering if there was any way I could make up for my duckling's lack of a friend?

The duckling is pretty healthy as far as I'm concerned and it eats like it's never gonna see food again. He's got a water bowl that he can easily step in and out of, and I clean it out every time he decides to use it as a bathroom. He lives in a big cardboard box with three little peepholes (he loves saying hello to people through the little peepholes) and the bedding is changed at least three times a day (there's a reason why I call my duckling my "super duper pooper")

He's got a mirror, it's firmly attached to the box so no worries about it falling over, and he's usually got some kind of stuffed toy. (Cut off all the tags and anything he could nibble off and choke on). He loves sitting in front of the mirror and cuddling with his stuffed toy.

I let him run around the yard at least once a day (or my room if it's rainy). He's intent on never leaving my side, and all we have in my yard is grass and the occasional patch of clovers (not the flower). And he loves music (which can be anything from the pop music on my ipad to me singing a lullaby or Vivaldi opera XD) and he loves being around people. He is a giant cuddle fiend, oh yes he loves cuddles.

The only problem is leaving this guy alone during school or when I have work or any other situation when I absolutely have to leave the house for more than three or four hours. Four hours is kinda pushing it, but anything before three hours, he's fine. I change the bedding before I leave, leave the lamp on, and he just chills with his mirror and stuffed doll. But anything more than that, this guy will squawk until I come home and it takes at least ten minutes of holding him and petting him to calm him down.

He doesn't quite sleep through the night either. I've resorted to using earplugs. I say not quite because it's almost like a cycle. Once the lights are out and he knows that I'm going to sleep, he'll be quiet for ten minutes maybe, shuffle around, then quietly peep, then rinse and repeat. I don't mind wearing earplugs but I'm a bit worried maybe he's having separation anxiety while I sleep. (He can't see me when I'm in my bed. It's in a different part of my room)

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