I can't say what will happen with your duck, but when I first got my duck Nettle she was an adult missing a nail. She was overmated by drakes and beat up and I assume it happened then. A few months later a smaller nail grew back, and then fell out/got torn out about a year later. Another year passed and a new nail grew back, and 4 years later is still there!
However, with my duck Pigweed, who has never been mated by a drake, I noticed one day that she was missing a nail. It never grew back. It has been at least 4 years now.
However, with my duck Pigweed, who has never been mated by a drake, I noticed one day that she was missing a nail. It never grew back. It has been at least 4 years now.