PLEASE Help, duck psychology?

[amarook]

A little Back story.

I got 2 Runner ducklings. They of course were totally bonded.
Ling ling is now almost 16 weeks. Cinder was killed by the neighbor's dog last month.
Ling Ling has not been right since. She started calling for Cinder right away. And, even though I got a little call duck to keep her company, she still quacks ALL day long. They have a nice pen with a little pond. They seem to get along just fine. The only time Ling Ling shuts up is if I come out to visit them. (Which of course I can't do all the time.)

There was a period of almost 2 weeks between when Cinder was killed, and when the call duck was living with her.
During that time I did give her extra attention because I was afraid she was going to disturb the neighbors.

Is it possible that giving her that extra attention was a mistake? Like maybe she is now more bonded to me, than to this new duck?

She does this really strange behavior now when I go to visit them.
I have NO idea what it means... if someone does I would love to know.

She kinda stretches her neck out, and gets really still. Instead of the MAD quacking, she makes these little squeaky noises. And she will pretty much let me do anything to her. If she is in the pond I can grab her bill and push her lightly through the water. If she is on land, she will stand there and let me pet her a pick her up.

She would NEVER do this before Cinder died.

I'm afraid that if the quacking doesn't ease up that my neighbors are going to start complaining. I would. She's pretty darn annoying even to us.

Thanks in advance!

Here's a picture of the brat with the call duck.

 

[ChaosTheory]

It sounds like she loves you. My female ducks have just started doing this. When the males are around they'll bob their heads a little and then stretch them out and be still (especially in the water). I think it's because they know that to mate the boys have to hold on to the necks

 

[zatsdeb]

I remember when I had my first ducks, we lost 1 and the other was so sad, one day I was sitting in the back yard, she came over by me, and then ran into my arms... she was not affectionate before, at all. she started quacking different tones, and bobbing her head.. like she was telling me, " I was minding my own business when something horrible happened, this raccoon came in to our house through the side wall and took my friend!"
she was so sad. I just kept giving her attention. maybe you can find her a mate, that would help.

 

[Birch Run Farm]

She probably views you as a male now that her mate has gone.

 

[amarook]

Quote:
Cinder was a girl too though.

 

[amarook]

Do you think getting a make will help?

ETA MAKE LOL That's a cross between a drake and a mate. AR AR

 

[monarc23]

I agree she's calling for a mate needs a buddy. however your call duck is very tiny and would get torchered by an average sized drake. Not to mention some ducks are just really talkative lol

 

[FenDruadin]

I had a similar thing happen when my entire flock--save one duck--was massacred by a fox. The one remaining duck (a fawn & white runner like yours) first was horribly depressed and wouldn't eat or anything. Then she became very, very friendly and would call for us all the time. Even after we got more ducks, she never stopped being friendly. BUT, she did eventually bond with the other ducks and is now fine.

It may be that she just doesn't have that much in common with the call duck. Ducks have personalities too, and like people, some just get along better than others. Can you get another duck similar to her? I have ducklings and eggs in the bator, and will almost certainly have drakes to spare before long--where are you located? I'll bet someone on here has a Runner to spare, or some eggs you could incubate.

Good luck. It must be stressful worrying about the neighbors. I hope she calms down soon.

 

[amarook]

Quote:
I'm in Northern WV. The girl I got the call duck from does have a pair of Runners available.
I'm starting to wonder if I should see if she will take the call duck, and I will take the pair of runners.
I wonder if that would help.

 

[FenDruadin]

You would be a bit of a drive for me.

I'm in NC.

Runners might work out better--maybe. However, if she takes the call duck, won't the call be lonely? Or does she have other ducks?

Also, another thing to consider is that if your duck gets lonely enough, she might be more inclined to bond with another duck, even the call. Can you get someone else to tend her for a couple days? If so, what I would do is lock her in the pen with the other duck, then walk away. Don't visit her or show your presence again for two or three days, minimum. Have the person who is caring for her not pay her any more attention than absolutely necessary.

Hopefully, she will eventually assume that you are dead or awol, and will begin the search for a new companion. If the only thing available is a call duck (or another runner or whatever), she will try to bond with it. Once they are bonded, you can return and while she will remember you and probably be delighted by your return, she will never stop loving her new duck friend.