Do Ducks Grieve?

[Duck Lady1]

My two peking this morning are acting unusual. Could it be they miss their brother who died yesterday?
Usually when I let them out of their duck house in the morning they happily follow me to the pond for a morning swim while I toss them floatable food and they slurp it up while chatting with each other.

Today they followed me to the pond. I tossed the food on the water and they just stood on the shore.

I tried to nudge them in the water and they jumped right back on the bank, leaving the food for the turtles to eat. (They're used to sharing their food with the pond turtles).

I picked one up and put him in the water and he ran back on shore.

They simply didn't want to be on the water.

They followed me back to the house looking for food so I tried again. Same result.

 

[Aapomp831]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-does-a-duck-do-after-the-passing-of-its-mate.957622/

I found this information

 

[Duck Lady1]

Thank you!

 

[416bigbore]

Sorry for your loss. I don't know if ducks actually grieve like humans. Since ducks are a social animal, they are definitely effected by the absence of their brother.

 

[Callender Girl]

Ducks are acutely aware of the loss of a flockmate. Is it grieving? Many people will say it isn't. I guess it's how you define grief. In my mind, their loss is their grief. They know one of their own is missing and it upsets their world.

 

[416bigbore]

It's a sad situation and a replacement for them would be good medicine.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

when my girl lost her sister she would not eat and just wanted to stay inside with me all day. she attacked the other ducks and just quacked loudly. it took her like a month to get completely back to normal, but she still doesn’t like if her new friends get out of sight for too long.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

and when one of my boys passed away his brothers definitely acted different. his best friend started attacking the other boys and the other two were definitely missing him as well

 

[KaleIAm]

I have lost 3 ducks, and each time my remaining ducks have behaved oddly. In my opinion they grieve.