HELP! How do I survive this? Indoor duck (temp)

[maralynn28]

My flock was recently taken out by raccoons (with the exception of 1). I knew she'd take it hard and be lonely, so we have gotten her some new buddies (3wks old now) and allowed her inside (she's been following me everywhere) during the brooding period. Problem is she POOPS everywhere and QUACKS incessantly!!!! How do I survive this? I was thinking of ordering some duck diapers but I hope this is a very temporary situation...
Can I make something for the meantime?
How do I get her QUIET? DH and the neighbors are so fed up, I'm afraid if she doesn't stop soon I might be forced to get rid of her.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

 

[Wifezilla]

Until you get those newbies all grown up and can put them outside, I would just get duck diapers and some ear plugs. You only have about 2 more weeks to go! Hang in there!!!!

 

[maralynn28]

Thanks, that's about the time frame I gave DH. Hopefully we'll be able to keep our sanity that long.
I had them all outdoors together yesterday since it was nice out, it went well but rather than hanging with her feathered friends, she still followed me around. I figured it's just cause they're so small right now and she needs time to bond with them.
I hope the neighbors are understanding....maybe I'll make them a basket of good will with duck eggs and earplugs.

 

[Wifezilla]

LOL

Yeah those girls can be so loud!!!

Slowly letting them out together and giving them time to bond when it is nice is a good idea. It took me 2 weeks or so to get these 2 to be buddies....

After that they were inseparable.

 

[HamandLily]

Lots of attention and cuddles will help her quieten down. The incesent quacking is usually because she is callingto her buddies - my duck sdid that when I lost her sister to a fox

Your ducks are beautiful!

 

[maralynn28]

I know. At first my heart was broken that I lost my two beloved beauties (WH!!!), but then seeing my lonely Cayuga run around calling for them...well, it was all I could do to keep from bawling...and I did.

It was so sad how obviously she misses them, that's how she started coming inside. She stood at the door quacking, then stepped in and went down the hall quacking and waiting to be answered, but no answer. It only took 1 night of that before I decided I needed to get her some buddies PRONTO.

She's doing much better this afternoon. It was so nice out, I let all the babies into the pond and they all got to play with "mama." I have so many pics to post later today, it was so adorable!!! They are back in the brooder now, and my girl is still outside quacking off and on but at least not constantly anymore....once in a while I hear a "knock" at the door.

I'm going to try to ignore her though, I don't want her getting used to being indoors too much!

Wifezilla, thanks again for sharing your expertise and photos of your lovely birds. Is that a Mallard, Rouen, or ???

 

[Wifezilla]

That's Bungie, a hatchery rouen. I sold him a few years back after Uno (the scruffy little thing in the picture) got eaten by a hawk

I also wanted a drake with better egg production genes and switched the whole flock to Welsh Harlequins.

Uno was a solo hatch and got lots of attention from people as well as from her "big brother". I was very upset that something decided to make her dinner. She was a buff x khaki. Here she was in her favorite swimming spot...a tupperware bowl! LOL I had a pond but she only wanted to swim in the bowl. Crazy thing!

And here is what Bungie ended up looking like once he feathered out. He is now living out west and has a bunch of mallard girlfriends last i heard

.

 

[maralynn28]

Aw, Uno was so beautiful!
Bungie looks so different in each pic, I never would have guessed him to be the same bird....how long before they get male feathers? Not sure if my 3 wk Rouen is a boy/girl...I know I can tell by voice but not sure which comes first.

Thanks for all your help again.

 

[Wifezilla]

Shortly after that first picture we could start seeing a green sheen on his head. The second picture was when he was around 6 months old. By 3-4 months he was looking pretty boyish.

 

[T Hi]

Hey Maralynn28!

I'm in Bonney Lake, WA. Between Puyallup and Enumclaw!

I have a duckling that was the only one who hatched out of a bunch of eggs. I have found that a stuff animal works wonders! Even for adult ducks! I go to Goodwill and get them for about $1. Right now with Easter around the corner they usually have lots of stuffed ducks too!

Even when I had 5 ducklings I still put a stuffed bunny in with them and it really quiets them down to snuggle with something.

Join us on the Washingtonians thread too! Lots of great people!

Good luck!