And then there was one. :(

off-grid hen

Songster
Mar 1, 2011
1,131
42
206
Upstate NY
My husband brought home 3 ducklings from the hardware store May 15th. Right away I noticed that the crested duck had a wry neck and possibly deformed wing on one side. He was a little wobbly but otherwise getting around ok. The other 2 were happy and healthy. I started supplementing niacin and poultry top dressing to try and help out the crested duckling. Feed was Flockraiser crumbles. I crushed one 50 mg pill in the water per day for 3 ducks.

After 3 weeks, the Pekin (what I think was a Pekin- it quickly grew to double the size of the others and was yellow) started having leg problems. I separated him and continued giving niacin to be sure he was getting enough. He was unable to stand up for 4 days then recovered a little, able to stand and walk a bit. After 2 days, he went back to flipping. He ended up having to be put down after a another week. (It was difficult for us to make the decision.)

Black duckling has always remained healthy. This morning I found the crested duck dead in the tall grass by the duck pen with no marks on it. His tail had started to twist as well.

I now have only one duck. Can I get newly hatched ducklings or try to find another one her age?

:(
 
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You can get smaller ducklings but you would have to wait to put them together until they are closer in size. Sorry for your loss!
hugs.gif
 
I go tomorrow to look at a khaki Campbell companion for our feathered lawn ornament. A 4H teen hatched a bunch of them and is willing to part with 1 or 2. My current duck is 7 weeks old and the others are 3 months old. I guess I will see the size difference when I see them tomorrow to figure out whether or not to introduce them right away. Wish me luck! So glad I found a duck so quickly, she has been looking around for her friend all day.

Would it be better to get just one so that the hatch mates don't stick together against my duck or should I get a male and a female? If I get only one which sex should I get?
 
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If you dont want to breed them i dont think it matters what gender you get. Around here everyone gets along after a few weeks so i would go with two. The only thing you dont want to happen is getting two males and one female. Do you know the sex of yours? Good Luck!!!!
 

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