Lone female call duck - keeping quiet?

[pirateped]

Hi all,

We unfortunately lost our male call duck last week to a fox - first time in 7.5 years we've ever had a fox in the garden, but unfortunately seems now the traffic is quieter the foxes are coming out earlier.

The problem is now our female is making a lot of noise, obviously missing her mate. She knows he is dead as she sat with us as we buried him, and I even put him next to her while I was digging the hole - she touched his beak, so she knows he has gone. She even sits right next to his grave during the day.

We are trying everything to keep the noise down, as even though our neighbours love our ducks, and love the sound, I'm sure there is only so much they can take - she is pretty much continuously noisy, only quietening down when she is sleeping or I give her mealworms.

Any ideas? Obviously we will get her another mate, but at the moment that is impossible due to the lockdown here in the UK.

Thank you, in desperation!

Peter

 

[Chickinie]

Awww. That's sad. Poor thing.

Could you interest her with something to play with for a while? Or spend some time with her doing something in the garden? Digging for worms maybe.

 

[pirateped]

Very sad...yes, we kept her busy yesterday as I was doing gardening, and she also sat with me in the garage for a bit while I worked in there. On Friday she spent a lot of time in there while I was working (my office is now in my garage during this time). I'm just trying to get her into the garage today while I work, but she's not having it. She came in all by herself last time, but she has been a lot noisier today. At the moment I've locked her in her run for a bit, and that is working, but I want her to be able to roam around the garden freely, but quietly.

 

[Isaac 0]

Sorry for your loss!

Spending time with her will of course help, but you could also set a mirror up for her or set some stuffed animals out, maybe play some duck noises on your phone. Just some suggestions, hope you find a mate for her soon.

 

[Chickinie]

I was going to say too, you could have her inside for a bit. That's so cute... But so sad. The cat could do you a favour and sit with her for a while instead of just stair haha.

You could just let your neighbours know about what has happened, if you haven't already, I'm sure they will understand.

Would she warm up to a stuffed toy of some sort, maybe?

 

[pirateped]

Sorry for your loss!

Spending time with her will of course help, but you could also set a mirror up for her or set some stuffed animals out, maybe play some duck noises on your phone. Just some suggestions, hope you find a mate for her soon.

That is a great idea. Frank used to love standing in front of the mirror we have up next to the BBQ, although never once saw Matilda doing that, but worth a try. She's in the garage with me at the moment while I work, so that is good for now, but I'll have to let her out in about an hour.

 

[pirateped]

I was going to say too, you could have her inside for a bit. That's so cute... But so sad. The cat could do you a favour and sit with her for a while instead of just stair haha.

You could just let your neighbours know about what has happened, if you haven't already, I'm sure they will understand.

Would she warm up to a stuffed toy of some sort, maybe?

Yes, she's inside the garage with me at the moment. I've given her some mealworms to eat, but I don't want her to get fat! :-0 Yes. we've let our neighbours know, but she has been a lot noiser than usual, so I don't want to overdo their generousity! I'll look around for some stuffed toys...unfortunately we don't have dogs (or kids!) so not sure if we have any lying around (toys, not kids or dogs! HA HA!).

 

[Chickinie]

The mirror is a great idea, if she likes it.

I think the more quiet time she spends with you the better she will feel spending time by herself outside. Though, she will probably want to follow you around most of the time now.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So sorry for your loss.
One thing that worries me about her being in the garden especially being noisy is drawing that fox back. She is precious and I'd hate for you to lose her too. I have a mirror attached to the wall inside my coop for my ducks to admire themselves.

 

[pirateped]

Yes, I've thought about that, but it happened late evening after it got dark. We don't have any foxes during the day, and I'm making sure I lock her away as soon as it gets dark now. We've always locked them away later and we've had no issues for 7.5 years, but then we've never had foxes around till the early morning hours...they're coming out earlier now.

Just tried putting the mirror against a tree in the garden - Frank used to love the mirror, so much so that he'd fly onto the table next to the BBQ to look at himself, but Matilda is just ignoring it. I think she likes the sound of her own voice more.