When a duck loses their companion

[Amiga]

Just about all ducks need the company of another duck or more. An unbreakable mirror may help until you sort out what you want to do.

 

[Charlotte17]

Me and my husband recently got two Peking ducks--Desmond and Virgil. They are beautiful ducks, very attached to one other, and are about six weeks old.

Two nights ago a skunk got into the coop and killed Desmond. We were able to rescue the other before it could be hurt, but now we have a very lonely duck. Our ducks had been very independent, could roam during the day on their own and had no trouble sleeping without us around. Now our duck is terrified to be by himself. When my husband leaves, the duck quacks loudly until he returns. He is okay sitting with me, but prefers my husband. We can't leave him alone without getting him upset. I have no idea what to do. Do we just hope he gets better at being on his own (we both work and can't stay with him during the day)? Do we get him a new duck? I'm a littler nervous about that--what if they don't get along? I'm not even sure where to get another duck. Or the third option is we give him back to the couple who gave him to us. They have three other ducks that were a part of the same flock as ours was. They were all with each other for a couple of days before we adopted the ducks.

I care about my ducks, but watching Desmond duck die was traumatizing for everyone involved. I really don't know what is best to do for our remaining duck, or where we would get a new companion for him if that was what we opted for. I want to do what is right for him.

We have re-fortified to coup, but we can't put him outside because he cries when he is by himself.

Please, any advice would be wonderful.

I am so sorry for your loss. He is heart broken seeing his friend get hurt and it is heart breaking for us humans too. Just love him and give him special treats, possibly a toy to change his attention to something fun. I will pray for Virgil and you.

Not sure where you live, however I have a very lonely female duck named, Daisy. I am in the UP Michigan.

I made the mistake and gave one of my drakes away to someone who said they needed a male duck. I would have never thought about it however, while in TSC a woman and her son came in looking for ducks. She told me her duck was killed an she needed a companion duck to fertilize eggs. I thought wow, I was just asking God, what should I do about this boy ducky. He is making my life harder always having him penned up. I have three ducks now 1 boy and two girls. Now the only reason I decided to rehome him is because all the other ducks were terrified of him and he was a stinker, so that is why he was always penned up. Now though since he is gone, the other two ducks are being incredibly mean to the other female. I'm at a loss, I thought I could stop separating them, however it seems I have to put up a divider in the coup more than ever now. So I think of Romans 8:28 in the bible. Be blessed

 

[Amiga]

While you search for a companion, you can place an unbreakable mirror in with him. If you have a photo of his buddy that you can print life size, that may also help.

 

[Highway97]

This story is so sad, I nearly cried! Poor Desmond, and poor Virgil too. I think a new friend would be a good for him. It will give him something new and exciting to think about.

There will be an adjustment. They will probably attack one another for a while what I suggest is you separate them inside the pen with either a cage or some kind of screen to black one another for a week or two then they get a custom to each other and then you allow them to be together they may fight a little and you may want to try to break it up but just let them be if a couple weeks don’t work try another week or so but eventually they will Bond

 

[Miss Lydia]

There will be an adjustment. They will probably attack one another for a while what I suggest is you separate them inside the pen with either a cage or some kind of screen to black one another for a week or two then they get a custom to each other and then you allow them to be together they may fight a little and you may want to try to break it up but just let them be if a couple weeks don’t work try another week or so but eventually they will Bond