Sorry I didn't update this sooner, I was hoping for a happy ending to give you guys, but time got away from me, and it's been a long winter! I figure some may still be interested though.
To start we decided on naming her Iris. The quarantine process went pretty smooth using all the advice I was given here. Got her checked over the best I could, dewormed, and then it was just a matter of keeping her occupied. Between a mirror, a couple of daily swims in her own little tub, and what company I could provide, she seemed content. The biggest inconvenience was she was at that age ducklings molt their first set of feathers, so there was fuzz
everywhere inside.
While taking her for her swims, Iris occasionally caught sight of the boys in their yard, and she would get pretty excited. She was obviously anxious to be with other ducks after who knows how long. All she had was a little pelican to keep her company on the pond where she was dumped. So, after about a month, I started letting her spend her days on the other side of the fence of the girls doing the
look but no touch method.
Iris and a couple of the girls would try to push on and nibble each other through the fence, but after a few days that stopped, and they would come over to hang around and sleep by her from the other side. So, I was encouraged things would go smooth, and after a week or so I finally let her in with them. Initially her and a couple of the other girls were a little pushy with each other, but nothing serious, and they worked it out among themselves quickly enough.
My drake Alfred, on the other hand, was not nearly as welcoming. To his credit he never tried mounting her like I was worried of, but he would constantly chase her away from the rest of the flock, food, the pond, etc. I tried a number of ways including just giving them time, limiting their contact, putting Alfred in timeout, separating Alfred for his own look no touch period, but he eventually pushed me to the point where I just sent him to live with the other boys. I felt bad because he gets picked on by the other drakes, but I didn't want him making poor little Iris an outcast either. Ultimately, I decided to give the girls the winter off and revisit the topic in Spring.
Fast forward a couple of months and everything is frozen, but all the ducks are happy for the most part. Of all the drawbacks of a cold, long winter; the worst was this guy being hungry.
Around the beginning of the year this bald eagle grabbed my poor little Iris one afternoon.
Fortunately, there was a pretty big commotion, and I was close enough inside that I flew out and chased it off fairly quick. And although it had her pinned down, thankfully she just got away with a few scratches. A couple days inside and she was good to go after the shock of it all wore off. Lucky it was this juvenile eagle that swept in and not the fully grown one I usually see it with.
So that ordeal was a bit scary, but since then the only real problem has been a lot more snow. Things are warming up though, and the drakes are getting a lot more hormonal, so I figured I'd try seeing how Alfred would do going back before he gets beat up too bad. After a week or so of
look no touch I gave him his opportunity, and understandably he was being a bit defensive towards all the girls, but I was willing to give him some time. However, it didn't take long for him start singling Iris out and chase her away like months before. So, unfortunately, it seems like Alfred will be staying a full-time member of the bachelor flock.
All of that said, Iris has done fabulously! She's thick as thieves with the rest of the ladies while also being my most social duck. When Alfred would be mean to her she'd climb up and sit in my lap when I'd sit in the yard. And even without him around she'll still come up and let you pet her. She's the only one you don't have to bribe with treats lol. Such a beautiful, happy girl! I'm very lucky to have her.
Anyways, thanks if you read all of that. I'll leave off with a few pictures I took of her and the girls earlier.
