Please Help! New Duckling Owners...

[Miss Lydia]

UPDATE: We made an appointment with our local vet for Monday at 1pm, because Ducky was acting funny on Sunday. My husband woke up on Monday morning to find that Ducky had passed away in the night

he wouldn't let me see her, but he said it looked like she may have broken her fragile little neck. I just hope she wasn't suffering and passed quickly and peacefully. She was such a sweet little baby! My husband have her a proper burial on my parents ranch. Scuba was really vocal that day, probably because she couldn't hear Ducky moving in her box

but now she's needing more attention than ever! We think she's going through a phase where she's scared of us, but wants to be held. So we're going to be giving her "treats" and move slowly around her. Any suggestions? Is this normal behavior?

I'm so sorry to hear about Ducky passing away,
as for Scuba is there anyway you can get her a friend. They just do so much better if they have one of their own. Especially if she is eventually going to be an outside duck she'll really be lonely. They do go though phases where they are scared of us so that part is natural and yes moving slowly and offering her treats and companionship not so much holding her unless she wants it but just spending time with her talking quietly and of course a stuffed animal to cuddle with but I'm sure you have already provided her that, and a non breakable mirror so she can see what she is. very important so when you bring in a friend she knows what it is.
Bless you all for taking such good care of Ducky while you had her.

 

[desertdarlene]

Awww, so sorry that Ducky passed, but glad she was with you in her last days instead of at the feed store. It's possible that she had a seizure or something in the night.

I definitely would get Scuba a friend or two and she might be afraid of you because she feels insecure about being alone. If you get a younger duckling, be sure to be careful about introducing them because Scuba will want to peck at him. But, maybe it will help Scuba feel more secure just hearing another duck in the house.

 

[Carcajou]

I definitely would get Scuba a friend or two and she might be afraid of you because she feels insecure about being alone. If you get a younger duckling, be sure to be careful about introducing them because Scuba will want to peck at him. But, maybe it will help Scuba feel more secure just hearing another duck in the house.

X2. So sorry for your loss. I am sure Ducky appreciated all the kind, loving care you provided.

 

[Finny]

Also, she's doing this weird thing with her bill...she opens her mouth wide but no sound or peeps come out. Is she trying to quack? Or is that their way of showing they're scared?

I am sorry for your loss .

My duck sometimes does this too. I wonder what it means.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Could it be a yawn? I see mine yawn.

 

[desertdarlene]

It could be a yawn, but I've also seen them do something similar as a threat display. Kind of a "step back, please". It's not like gaping is it? Any breathing issues with her?

 

[Amiga]

Sometimes when a duckling is anxious, they will open their bills, I think it looks like when my ears need to pop and I open my mouth and yawn to try to pop them.

 

[thesmiths]

Thanks for the encouragement and kind thoughts, yall. We really appreciate all your help throughout Ducky's short adventure here on Earth. We are sad she is gone, but we are happy to know that we were able to give her a better life Scuba is doing great! Except we wish she would stop growing, her box doesn't grow with her! We will need to find a bigger box or figure out where to house her!

We think the mouth thing is just her way of saying she is scared... she only does it when we move to fast or put our hands in her box. It seems like a "back up" type of thing. No breathing problems!

Scuba and I took a nap after tub time today, she was so cute. I was covered in feathers afterward, but I enjoyed the time! I feel like that may have been the only good sleep she has had recently, it seems like she never sleeps!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks for the encouragement and kind thoughts, yall. We really appreciate all your help throughout Ducky's short adventure here on Earth. We are sad she is gone, but we are happy to know that we were able to give her a better life Scuba is doing great! Except we wish she would stop growing, her box doesn't grow with her! We will need to find a bigger box or figure out where to house her!

We think the mouth thing is just her way of saying she is scared... she only does it when we move to fast or put our hands in her box. It seems like a "back up" type of thing. No breathing problems!

Scuba and I took a nap after tub time today, she was so cute. I was covered in feathers afterward, but I enjoyed the time! I feel like that may have been the only good sleep she has had recently, it seems like she never sleeps!

Does she have a stuffy to cuddle with? I am glad to hear Scuba is doing so good too. Have you thought anymore about getting another friend for her? Lowes maybe able to help you with a large appliance box or a furniture store. Thanks so much for updating.

 

[thesmiths]

Right now Scuba is in a large tool cart box (20" x 38") with pine shavings, water & food, and a big stuffed bunny rabbit friend. She loves to step in her water and food and spill it everywhere so we had to put both in square tupperware... We might need to get small buckets her pretty soon :/ anyone have a watering/feeder container that works well and doesn't get knocked over or get covered in pine shavings?

We thought about getting another friend for Scuba, but we aren't sure it's the best idea right now. We don't even know how to house her when she's full grown, so we don't know how that will go with 2 ducks. But we will see!