question about a stressed duck (mate was killed)

[BarneyChick97]

How long will it take, or will it EVER take for one of my ducks to recover from the loss of her mate? Two days ago, something killed and consumed (we suspect bird of prey-red tail hawk) a duck. We still have another pair, who are rarely "together" because its a drake/hen pair. The one that is left from the other pair I know is calling her lost friend. I've heard them call to one another when they have been on separate parts of the yard in the past. She is VERY loud, and seems VERY spooked by ANYTHING, even us. I am very sad for her, but she still does have a duck friend, just not her "mate". Will she eventually get over it??

 

[Going Quackers]

I would believe so, since they don't mate for life but their will be a time of great loss. Is it possible to get anymore? sometimes the distraction of a newbie and possible ability to create a new bond may help.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[ChicagoDucks]

I lost some ducks to a predator and had some survivor ducks with PTSD. It took a while, but they got back to normal--it helped that there were two of them, though. Ours perked right up when we could dig in the garden and turn up soil packed with delicious, fresh earthworms. Then they were hunting worms like crazy. Time to get a new duck, maybe?

 

[Nebraskagirl]

I would suggest getting another duck. I had to this twice because we lost a duck and my favorite drake to a **** hawk. I HATE hawks! Once you get another duck, it will be better.

 

[Proud Momma]

where is the best place to look for an adult female? This same thing just happened to us 2 days ago and our drake seems so sad. He is 3 so I definitely do not want to introduce a baby.

 

[Miss Lydia]

where is the best place to look for an adult female? This same thing just happened to us 2 days ago and our drake seems so sad. He is 3 so I definitely do not want to introduce a baby.

Have you looked on Craigslist? and so sorry for your loss

 

[BarneyChick97]

I don't really want to get another duck. They came as a set to us from a dear friend, they were both ladies, so I guess they were more like sisters. I still have my original set of ducks (hen and drake), but they only see one another while supervised, or through a fence, because he's brutally rough on her, plus, he was never nice to the other girls. Anyways, we built them a nice shelter (its 5x10, fully caged all over), and she's out in the yard with the other duck hen. So I have a pretty mellow duck, and the other is yelling for her friend. Lucky, for them its very rainy and soggy, so they are having a real good time sloshing in the mud/grass/puddles. She's just so loud, it almost hurts my ears!! PTSD is a good way to describe it. I just hope she gets over it soon, its really sad.

 

[ducksinarow]

I gave a spare drake away this spring. It took 2-3 days for the others to stop going around calling and looking for him. Best of luck.