𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏! (ᗒᗣᗕ)՞

[Scootchycat]

Hi! I’m new here and relatively new to chicken owning and duck owning. So back in January I got my first batch of birds, 4 RHODE Island Reds, 4 Barred Rock and 1 Peking Duck. All female. This previous month I placed an order for a few more ducks, specifically 3. My fiancé didn’t agree so I canceled the order. Just yesterday I got a package with 7 baby Khaki Campbell ducks! But sadly 6 were dead with one surviving. So I believe the one that survived imprinted on me (or humans) because it had no other friends to keep it company. So now it’s been somewhat of a nightmare. I feel I have a newborn! Only this one I can’t carry around with me cause it needs a heat lamp! It constantly wants to be with someone and not just me sitting with him like me half in the brooder! Unfortunately I have to work and tend to the other animals and you know life stuff. We both haven’t slept at all because it’s crying if I’m not close enough. So my question Is, is there any advice or suggestions from people who have experienced something similar as to what steps I could take to help the little guy self soothe or a friend to keep him occupied? I could keep him in a brooder next to the other chickens so he isn’t lonely? Or do you think any of the chickens or the duck would take to mothering while I’m not available? I don’t want the poor thing to make himself sick with anxiety from not being around anyone. Please help!
Thank you!
ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ

 

[nuthatched]

He doesn't need another animal to mother it, give it a fluffy stuff toy or a mirror. Try to find a new home asap and complain to the hatchery, that's wildly bad business.

 

[Scootchycat]

He doesn't need another animal to mother it, give it a fluffy stuff toy or a mirror. Try to find a new home asap and complain to the hatchery, that's wildly bad business

Thank you! Im hoping to convince my fiance to keep him. My brother currently lives with us and also my elderly mother and shes been helping when she can and my brother doesnt work so Im planning on recruiting his help as well! So we’re definately trying to make it work….

 

[nuthatched]

Thank you! Im hoping to convince my fiance to keep him. My brother currently lives with us and also my elderly mother and shes been helping when she can and my brother doesnt work so Im planning on recruiting his help as well! So we’re definately trying to make it work….

That's nice but the thing is that ducks need to be with other ducks, they're flock animals.
The panic he shows now when he's alone will get worse as he ages, an alone flock animal suffers from severe mental stressors. Rehome the little guy do he can have his best life.

 

[KathiQuacks]

Wow, yeah, that’s bad on the hatchery’s part.

You can carry them with you, actually. Your body heat will be enough to keep them warm. Just make sure baby gets to eat & drink frequently.
I agree with giving them a stuffy and a mirror for when they can’t be with anyone.
If you want to keep them, you’ll need to introduce them to your other duck very soon. I’m sure your other duck will appreciate having a companion of her own kind, too. You can do short, supervised visits now and gear up to unsupervised visits after they’re 1 month old. These visits will be teaching both of them “how to duck.”

Did the baby come sexed or unsexed? If the baby turns out to be male, you’ll either need to rehome him (and get a female companion for your other duck!), or keep him away from your chickens & get a few more duck hens.

 

[HobbyHoarder]

Did you get ahold of the hatchery yet to let them know they not only sent you 7 ducks after you cancelled your order of 3, but that six of them were dead? If so, what did they say??