- Jun 18, 2009
- 129
- 2
- 111
Last week DH came home with 2 rescued day-old mallards. The mama and siblings (8 of them) had died (don't have the details on how). One of the little ones was much smaller and a little weaker than the other. By the second day it started getting sick. I took it to the vet on day 3 but it died despite all efforts. Vet said there was no way to tell what caused it but the other one appeared fine. As a precaution, she advised that I keep the little one away from my other ducks for a few days to be sure it wasn't a contagious viral infection.
It's been over a week now and this little one (now named Fidget) is thriving and showing no signs of illness. I've tried introducing Fidget to my flock of 5 but they want no part of her (or him - I'm hoping it's a her though). My 2 males chase Fidget away and my 3 females run quacking in fear from her. At first Fidget would run after them peeping, trying to join the group. Now when I take her out she sticks with me and my kids and barely tries to mix in with them.
Fidget is now completely attached to her human family. She follows us everywhere and has to be sitting on one of us at all times unless we're walking or she's eating or swimming. We have a brooder for her to sleep in at night (and for when no one is home) but she FREAKS when we put her in there and has now managed to begin jumping out of it. I've given her a couple of stuffed animals to snuggle but she's not accepting substitutes! There's been someone home with her (for the most part) everyday and we've been taking her with us when we can in a mesh cat carrier bag. This is fine for now, while she's cute and little, but I don't know how it's going to go over when she's a full size duck!
So, my questions -
1- Will the other ducks ever accept her - maybe when she's older and looks/sounds more like them or are my older ducks snobby elitists? They were all raised together from day one and they've never really had any interactions with other "critters" (besides us).
2 - Any suggestions on how to help Fidget sleep through the night without us? She peeps and dashes around the room for nearly an hour when we put her to bed for the night - it breaks my heart.
3 - Is Fidget now doomed to be an indoor lone duck because she's bonded with us or will she become more independent and want to be outdoors as she gets older?
It's been over a week now and this little one (now named Fidget) is thriving and showing no signs of illness. I've tried introducing Fidget to my flock of 5 but they want no part of her (or him - I'm hoping it's a her though). My 2 males chase Fidget away and my 3 females run quacking in fear from her. At first Fidget would run after them peeping, trying to join the group. Now when I take her out she sticks with me and my kids and barely tries to mix in with them.
Fidget is now completely attached to her human family. She follows us everywhere and has to be sitting on one of us at all times unless we're walking or she's eating or swimming. We have a brooder for her to sleep in at night (and for when no one is home) but she FREAKS when we put her in there and has now managed to begin jumping out of it. I've given her a couple of stuffed animals to snuggle but she's not accepting substitutes! There's been someone home with her (for the most part) everyday and we've been taking her with us when we can in a mesh cat carrier bag. This is fine for now, while she's cute and little, but I don't know how it's going to go over when she's a full size duck!
So, my questions -
1- Will the other ducks ever accept her - maybe when she's older and looks/sounds more like them or are my older ducks snobby elitists? They were all raised together from day one and they've never really had any interactions with other "critters" (besides us).
2 - Any suggestions on how to help Fidget sleep through the night without us? She peeps and dashes around the room for nearly an hour when we put her to bed for the night - it breaks my heart.
3 - Is Fidget now doomed to be an indoor lone duck because she's bonded with us or will she become more independent and want to be outdoors as she gets older?