Lone survivor duck - mental health?

[Miss Lydia]

So very sad and heart breaking.

I hope your lone duck survives and you can find her some friends.

 

[Seatownduckmama]

So very sad and heart breaking.

I hope your lone duck survives and you can find her some friends.

Thanks Miss Lydia - some neighbors around the corner actually have some cayuga's and we're thinking it might be best to try to re-home her with them rather than get more ducks here...It's not logical, but I still think she'd be more scared/traumatized back in her house her than with a new flock....crossing fingers they'll want her.

 

[Miss Lydia]

How is she doing today?

You maybe right on rehoming her, but they will need to introduce her slowly to their established flock they will see her as an outsider which will make rehoming her very stressful.

 

[Seatownduckmama]

She seems to be doing better physically every day - but she's definitely depressed. I swear she's crying - she has tears/wetness coming from her eyes with no other signs of eye issues - and it's not just when she's around water.
I'm thinking tomorrow I'm going to try to give her some time outside - and maybe visit on a duck play date to the neighbors but still stay inside with us at night.

 

[BantyChooks]

I've had a similar experience with a mink attack. No, they don't get PTSD, but yes, they do get depressed. My poor duck called for her friends for a while. I found letting her swim to work the best in making her happy again, the mirror I added to her pen made no change in her situation. Be careful that the strange ducks do not injure her further.

 

[Seatownduckmama]

I've had a similar experience with a mink attack. No, they don't get PTSD, but yes, they do get depressed. My poor duck called for her friends for a while. I found letting her swim to work the best in making her happy again, the mirror I added to her pen made no change in her situation. Be careful that the strange ducks do not injure her further.

Thanks for sharing your story...yeah, I'm worried the neighbor ducks won't warm to her or it will only make things worse - especially as she'd be on their turf.
And of course the DH wants to rehome because of cost and work load...DD and I want to keep her and get more. Sigh....Logic vs. the heart...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Anytime a new duck is added there needs to be a time of meet and greet with new duck on one side of fencing established flock on the other where they can see each other but no one gets beat up. In the coop the newbie can sleep inside a dog crate till all is well with her being accepted. Sometimes it takes a week maybe longer before newbie is accepted and less aggressive ducks can go in and visit newbie as long as supervision is being done.

 

[Seatownduckmama]

Anytime a new duck is added there needs to be a time of meet and greet with new duck on one side of fencing established flock on the other where they can see each other...

Would that be the case do you think if we brought 2 new ducks home? They'd be on our duck's turf and she's not aggressive...I'm fine with doing it, just want to make sure it makes sense. Thank you!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Do you have a large dog crate? You could put the 2 newbies inside of it so they can meet face to face then if things look like they are going good while your there let them all be together You really have to play it by ear you just never know how they will react. Since your duck is recovering you def don't want to bring 2 new ducks home and they start picking on her. Or her them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

How are things going?