"Deformed" Duckling?

[clkcdavis]

These two are six weeks old today. The one on the left has always been smaller than it's five siblings. It's wings are very small compared to the others. Everything else about it is normal - swimming in the pond, eating, etc. Is it deformed? We do have a wild Mallard drake who decided to make his home with us a couple of years ago. Could he be the father? The Mallard is much smaller than our other drakes. I'm just curious if anyone has had a duckling like this before.

 

[Jenbirdee]

Aww it’s so cute.. a “mini-me” duck! You could be right, the different Dad maybe. No I’ve never seen that before, but if he is living well and happy that’s great

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Could just be a runt. I had a muscovy duckling that was so small (I joked he must be a call duck they accidentally sent me) that suddenly shot up to 2nd place size wise.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What breed are they supposed to be just asking because there is an eye strip on your little one which could very well mean dad is the Mallard.

Beautiful ducklings.

 

[Quatie]

Is its feather development lagging behind the other one? It looks still fluffy in the picture, while the other looks like it is nearly all feathered out.