Raising a singular duckling

XxBLUExX

In the Brooder
Mar 3, 2015
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I recently acquired a tiny fluffy yellow duckling from a girl who thought she wanted it but decided she didn't after it pooped on her hand.
I would love to go to TSC to get some friends for her but their limit is 6 and I couldn't possibly take that many.
So for now Zaxby is a lone duckling.
Anyways I was wondering if anyone had any advice for playing with and socialising her? She's already claimed me as mommy and she follows me around everywhere but I'd like to actually "play" with her, though I'm not sure how ducklings play.
Ive ordered some diapers for her because I'd like her to be an indoor/outdoor duck.
She currently resides in a plastic bin with a brooder lamp and she's eating dumor chick/duckling starter/grower with a bit of ultra kibble supplement.
She loves bath time and diving under water (like any duck would) I'm going to get some cat toys later this week to give her something to do in the bathtub.
She's so sweet and I can't wait to watch her grow ^_^
I say her, though I'm not sure if she really is a she, I suppose time will tell.
I think she's a Pekin but not sure.
I have a swim-able clear creek at the edge of my yard that I like to canoe in with my dog Charlie and I plan to take Zaxby with me when she's fully feathered, the way she acts when she sees water I know she's going to be thrilled.
By the way my name is Rebekah and this is my first time owning a duck, though my papaw has always raised chickens so I know a tiny bit about them.
Looking forward to meeting you all!
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For starters, shame on the parents of that little girl who bought her a disposable duckling! Sorry, that's just a major hot button issue for me. :/

Raising a lone duckling is possible, I did it with my lil' Wobbles! But it is tricky, and VERY time consuming. If you don't have the luxury of either being retired or able to work from home, you need to get it a buddy. Your best bet might be to look around for local breeders, since most sites that sell like Metzer do have a limit.

Are you on the west coast? I know of a great farm in Oregon that's willing to ship a minimum of two ducklings! Or maybe they only sell adults...I'm not sure, it's been a good long while since I last spoke to them. Either way, best of luck with the new fuzzbutt, you're a real peach for saving it from that wicked family, and I hope you can get him some tiny friends soon!
 
You can raise just one, just I've heard it's best with 2 or more. That way they don't become lonely while you are at school or work. And ducks are going to poop....they shouldn't get rid of it for doing something that a duck is going to do. That girl doesn't need another pet. Poor duckling :(
 
X2 (Edit: oops, X3 i meant CountryGirl12 squeaked in while I was typing
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Metzer (and probably others) will send two ducks, but it costs about the same as if you were getting 6. They have I think a $35 minimum plus you have to purchase a heat pack with only 2 ducks. We got our last 2 that way (and added on the grow gel because in our neck of the woods ducks had been arriving Thursday instead of Wednesday and sexing which we can't get locally) and when all was said and done, it was $64.08. That's a bit pricey when the ducklings are $5-6, but hey, it is less that one vet visit so in the grand scheme of things it is money that is spent once for the right companions for years!

Edit: my current avatar is one of the pricey brats
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The girl is one I'm acquainted with, and honestly I didn't think she could be so shallow as to shun a baby duck for something that WE ALL DO. Showed her true colors..
I'm going to look around on Craigslist first to see if I can find some ducklings on there.
Thanks all!
 
Until you have some friends for her, if you can't be with her 100% of the time, give her a clean stuffed animal and/or an unbreakable mirror so she won't feel so alone.
 
The girl is one I'm acquainted with, and honestly I didn't think she could be so shallow as to shun a baby duck for something that WE ALL DO. Showed her true colors..
I'm going to look around on Craigslist first to see if I can find some ducklings on there.
Thanks all!

Right? It's like...what did you expect, the thing to politely excuse itself and run to the bathroom to make a poopie? :p
 
Right? It's like...what did you expect, the thing to politely excuse itself and run to the bathroom to make a poopie? :p
Hey if anyone has a training method to get that down, I will have 13 house ducks and my living room will look like a frame from the Far Side
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She's such a rude duck for not excusing herself to the restroom! Rofl xD
Oh I'm in love she's the sweetest thing.
She loves to throw her leg out when she's relaxed and it cracks me up.

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