I found a baby duck!

[Tortoise]

Well, they're probably not going to literally die from loneliness or something. They will be frightened and stressed if "Mom" isn't around a lot. That can exacerbate any health problems they have, which could lead to death. Still when Mom is not around they'll be scared, lonely and miserable. That why it's generally considered better to get more than one duck/duckling. Ducklings can also imprint on each other and keep each other company.

The above is why I have a cordial hatred for "Easter duckling" people. If parents get a child a dog or cat, the child treats it like part of the family. A duckling gets treated more like a living toy. For maybe two or three weeks or so. Then the work/mess/etc increases while the "cute factor" decreases. Meaning the duckling gets tossed out of the only home it knows to die of exposure, starvation or predation, frightened and alone.

I agree and really dont like any animal given as a gift to a child. I'd rather see the stuff the animal needs given as the gift and wait till the excitement of the party and other toys/gifts have settled to bring in the actual animal.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Kkrista123 has one house duck I bet she has a lot of valuable info to share.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Meaning the duckling gets tossed out of the only home it knows to die of exposure, starvation or predation, frightened and alone.

Or they give it to "a friend who has a farm." I love that one. I had a guy get straight run Leghorns for Easter and then he tried to unload them on me. No thanks, buddy. I paid the extra dollar, and got the pullets I wanted.