Raising one orphaned Indian Runner

[CrystaBub]

Runners are so dependent on their flock I am not sure one would bond well to chickens..

My Runners are much more into each other being together than my Muscovy's. I'd try to find someone who has ducklings so this little one can bond with it's own kind.

Agree with Miss Lydia. Also Runners are very high energy birds - it won't make a good house duck. It will want to be active all day - which will end up driving you crazy if he/she thinks you are his best friend!

 

[MisaF]

You have all been so helpful! Thank you! So, people I know have a runner sitting on eggs. We are hoping they hatch and we can get Charles Ducken's (yes, I named him/her) in with her babies. If nothing comes of the eggs we are going to raise him until he's big enough to safely try to get our little one into their flock.

Has anyone had any lucky with having an outside baby accepted by a mama? Any advise on how/if this can happen? Are we better raising him/her until we can old enough to safely attempt to have him join a flock?

 

[CrystaBub]

I would think the younger you can get them into another group, the better. I recently introduced 2 female 4 month old ducks to my bonded 4 month old male/female pair. It's going 'just ok' and I wish that I had done it when they were still babies... Once the drakes reach mating age, they only have one thing on their minds - and they will chase, catch, bite, bully, etc until they get it

 

[Miss Lydia]

Not likely a mama with new ducklings will accept and older duckling into her group or she/he will even accept them.. I'd think your duckling is bonded to who ever has been caring for it. So Eventually once CD is adult size they can start letting the established flock get use to CD and vise versa through a meet and greet pen of some kind. Or you just get some duckling mates for Charles Dickens.

 

[MisaF]

Hi all!

Update on my single duckling. We ended up with other babies to foster when the single was a week old. He/she tried to eat them! So we fostered those and found them a home leaving us with only our single duck. ‍

He/she is super attached to me and I make sure I spend a ton of time with her/him. I brought our single over to visit with other ducks two weeks ago. That was eye opening. Ours wanted NOTHING to do with them and ran from them. Again, ‍

The duck is now at 4 weeks old and still living inside but I spend a lot of time outside with it. It follows me, goes for a swim in the duck pools f helps me pull weeds. Never leaving my sight.

We set up a small pen next to my hens so he/she can spend time outside without me. It has a small pool and is a safe enough distance that the hens can’t peck the duckling. So far the duck screams of I try to walk away so I’m kind of slowly moving further away a little at a time.

I’m going to try having another play date with some ducks to see if we can get this guy to realize he is one of them. Not sure what else to do!

I’d get another duck to bring home (can take an adult from a friend) but I don’t want to do that until I can figure out if this one is a boy or girl.

So, I’m attaching the latest picture of Charles Duckens (I figured Charlie would work for a boy or girl). Still not making anything but peeping sounds really. Any one have any idea if he is a he?

Also, any advise on how to get Duckens to start being a duck rather than a human without traumatizing him/her?

Thanks!!!
Melissa

 

[chickens really]

Definitely needs another Duck and don't humanize his reactions to the other Ducks. It's all normal reactions. He would not of ate the others and would have friends by now.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Probably having a few ducks Duckins age to pal around would help his being so bonded to you. I had a duckling rejected by his mama I had to bring inside she only had 2 eggs and the other one didn’t make it he was very attached to me but when we knew for sure what sex we went and got him his very own girls his age he learned real fast he was a duck. But before we got him his own I took him out side every day to visit with the flock so they would recognize him and he them. It takes a bit of time to get them weaned off of us but it can def be done. One thing I still cherish about that time I had with my duckling was that we still have a close bond even 7 yrs later. Not sure on sex my Runners were starting to have voice change at around 5 weeks old

 

[MisaF]

I get it. He was going to hurt them though. The size difference was enough that he could have caused damage. I’ve never had a duck or raised anything other than chickens and I’m new to that as well. Just trying to do the best I can here.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Your doing fine

 

[MisaF]

I will say I have enjoyed bonding with Duckens. I always assumed ducks and chickens were similar but they aren't at all. I've learned a lot and I've tried to do my best to do right by the little guy. I mean, I read about nutrition and he's getting his brewer's yeast and some rolled oats to make sure he isn't getting too much protein. He gets a lot of time outside both walking around with me and swimming. He has a large enclosure in the house and always has water deep enough for him to get his whole head in and under the water.

I have no access to a duck the same size/age as him. I have access to adults that may need to be rehomed. My other option is a woman who has a small flock of her own ducks, some of which were raised as orphans in the house on their own but she was able to transition them into their new flock slowly. I would like to keep him because we're attached to him as well but I don't want an entire 'flock' maybe just two or three tops. It's hard to know what the right thing to do is.

As always, I appreciate everyone's advice!