Duck with seperation anxiety with chicks

[Bethanyann2515]

I have one sweet little duck with my 5 chicks. We purchased 2 ducks but one passed away unfortunately. We have raised him with 5 chicks. If the chicks wander where he can't see them, he panics and squawks until they coming running for him! If we take him to have water time by himself, he is freaking out most of the time. He bathes, cleans his nostrils, and then panics! I feel so awful! I understand he must be attached to his chick siblings but it makes me so sad! Anyone else dealt with this?

 

[Pyxis]

Ducks are flock animals. Since the other duckling died, the chicks are now his only flock, and so when he is separated from his flock, he is stressed and wants to be with them and will call for them.

You'll need to find another duckling to be his flock. Preferably two, just in case you do lose another one. Then he will have a flock that he can do duck things like swimming and playing in water with.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/why-you-shouldnt-keep-just-one-duck.1228573/

 

[Bethanyann2515]

Ducks are flock animals. Since the other duckling died, the chicks are now his only flock, and so when he is separated from his flock, he is stressed and wants to be with them and will call for them.

You'll need to find another duckling to be his flock. Preferably two, just in case you do lose another one. Then he will have a flock that he can do duck things like swimming and playing in water with.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/why-you-shouldnt-keep-just-one-duck.1228573/

Thank you!! That's what we were thinking. ❤