Is it fine to have one duckling with the mother?

[CharmingChickens]

This morning we had two adorable ducklings hatch. They hatched in an old dog cage. This morning i found 1 hatched and 1 halfway zipped. At about 12:00 pm I checked again and the second one hatched. It was still wet so I wanted to wait for it to dry, then transfer them to a plastic tub or another cage with smaller holes so the duckling can’t squeeze out. Since both ducklings are only a couple hours old I figured they would stay with the mother and rest. It’s a pretty large cage and the door is shut so no chickens can get in. I checked on them again a couple hours later and only found one duckling. I looked everywhere in the coop it was nowhere. I let the chickens free range today. After I gave up looking for her I went to get a plastic tub to put mama and the remaining baby so we don’t lose anymore. On my way out I found the baby passed away, the poor thing didn’t even look like a duckling anymore. It’s face was destroyed. I’m devastated I never thought the chickens would do such an awful thing. Now I put the remaining baby in a 100% escape free zone with mom duck. I’ve heard many people say never raise a duckling Alone, but is it fine with the mom? Or should we attempt to get another?
Thanks in advance..



Rip adorable baby duck

 

[Canadian Wind]

Yes, please leave it with Mom. That isn't alone and even if it's an only child, it will still learn and thrive being raised by a momma.

Taking it away would actually be harmful for it's development, as then it would *truly* be single.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Also, sorry to hear about the one that didn't make it. Normally they stay under their mother for the first day or two, I wonder why it wandered out into danger.

 

[Isadora]

When people talk about not raising one duckling by itself, they mean if you buy it from the store. if it's raised with the mother duck it's perfectly fine.