Single duck. What's next?

[Tuftul]

Hello, I found my female mallard deceased this morning. I have no idea what happened and I'm very distraught. That leaves my male Cayuga alone. He's already very lost without her (she was definitely the leader). What's the next step?

1.) Find adult female or 2
2.) Adult male or 2
3.) Raise 2 more ducklings

*How do you introduce new ducks?
* What breed would be best?
*I know males with females will fight. Will they fight when there's no females? Will they be less likely to chase my dogs with no female?
* How do you socialize a new duck to be friendly to people?

I have lost my social butterfly. She came to the back door to get snacks and visit.

Thank you for any help or suggestions!

 

[FathertoFeathers]

Well I personally would get some more females. If you're using them for eggs I would get a Khaki Cambell or a Welsh Harlequin. If you're just having them for pets I would get some runners for the male. Runners are very sociable and mine walk right up to the window and quack until I come outside with them. They love attention and are so much fun to watch. As for getting them to be social with you that's a bit harder. I got my runners when they were full grown and had little human interaction prior. At first I would just spend time outside with them and let them know I'm not a threat. Then when I fed them I would put a pile of food by their coop and back away from them. Everyday id get a little closer until now they come right up to me. The fastest way I got my ducks to love me was through their stomachs. I went out and bought the biggest and juiciest watermelon I could find and put some in their pool. They absolutely loved me for it they followed me around for hours after that wanting more. Just spend some time with them and they'll come to love you. I wish you the best of luck!

 

[Tuftul]

Well I personally would get some more females. If you're using them for eggs I would get a Khaki Cambell or a Welsh Harlequin. If you're just having them for pets I would get some runners for the male. Runners are very sociable and mine walk right up to the window and quack until I come outside with them. They love attention and are so much fun to watch. As for getting them to be social with you that's a bit harder. I got my runners when they were full grown and had little human interaction prior. At first I would just spend time outside with them and let them know I'm not a threat. Then when I fed them I would put a pile of food by their coop and back away from them. Everyday id get a little closer until now they come right up to me. The fastest way I got my ducks to love me was through their stomachs. I went out and bought the biggest and juiciest watermelon I could find and put some in their pool. They absolutely loved me for it they followed me around for hours after that wanting more. Just spend some time with them and they'll come to love you. I wish you the best of luck!

Thank you for your reply! We're all very upset.

My cayuga is a little inbred. His feet are pointed inward and can't move very fast. Would he be left behind by runners?

I should have known food is always the answer!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Maybe KC females would be better, my Runners are pretty zoomie so you might want to think about that. Or another med size breed. So sorry for your loss.

 

[FathertoFeathers]

Thank you for your reply! We're all very upset.

My cayuga is a little inbred. His feet are pointed inward and can't move very fast. Would he be left behind by runners?

I should have known food is always the answer!

I have two runners and the rest are fairly heavy breeds and a times have trouble keeping up but for the most part they stick together.

 

[Royaly Ducked]

I have a male runner, and a male Campbell. They are 4 months old. I didn't find out until their tail feathers curled that they are both males. They LOVE to chase the dogs. LOVE it. It's like their favorite pastime. One of my dogs likes to be chased, so it works out, they mainly chase her around and she gets all barky if they chase anyone else. I don't know about everyone, but in my own experience 2 males love to chase dogs. (And they are hormonal teenagers)..

i was at tractor supply getting dog food and feeling sorry for myself for some medical crap that fell on me and there were these tiny beautiful Magpie ducklings under heat lamps. I tried sexing them. The TSC employee helped. One of the ducklings shot a stream of poop directly into the mouth and face of the TSC employee. (You know the carnival game where you shoot water and blow up a balloon... it was exactly like that).
I was so mortified I immediately bought 2 and ran home (in my car) inwardly cringing the whole time.. I mean.. it was awful. The worst part was I couldn't quit laughing. I may have to find a new TSC.

However, back to the point.. The differences in these ducklings are night and day. They love love love me. If they can't see me they freak out. I play animal planet for them during the day while I am working (I work from home) and they are soo soo uber sweet. I don't know if it's the magpie or the female or the compilation of hopefully both.. but I would 11/10 recommend magpie females. (and pray they don't grow wienners)

 

[DuckyDonna]

I have a male runner, and a male Campbell. They are 4 months old. I didn't find out until their tail feathers curled that they are both males. They LOVE to chase the dogs. LOVE it. It's like their favorite pastime. One of my dogs likes to be chased, so it works out, they mainly chase her around and she gets all barky if they chase anyone else. I don't know about everyone, but in my own experience 2 males love to chase dogs. (And they are hormonal teenagers)..

i was at tractor supply getting dog food and feeling sorry for myself for some medical crap that fell on me and there were these tiny beautiful Magpie ducklings under heat lamps. I tried sexing them. The TSC employee helped. One of the ducklings shot a stream of poop directly into the mouth and face of the TSC employee. (You know the carnival game where you shoot water and blow up a balloon... it was exactly like that).
I was so mortified I immediately bought 2 and ran home (in my car) inwardly cringing the whole time.. I mean.. it was awful. The worst part was I couldn't quit laughing. I may have to find a new TSC.

However, back to the point.. The differences in these ducklings are night and day. They love love love me. If they can't see me they freak out. I play animal planet for them during the day while I am working (I work from home) and they are soo soo uber sweet. I don't know if it's the magpie or the female or the compilation of hopefully both.. but I would 11/10 recommend magpie females. (and pray they don't grow wienners)

I'd have paid money to see that!

 

[DuckyDonna]

Nobody has mentioned this but why do you think your duck died? Predator, poison, swallowed a screw or something? Anyway, my point is possibly to look into that before jumping off the curb and getting more ducks if it's something that needs correcting.

 

[Ducklover77]

Oh hilarious
im dying over here

I have a male runner, and a male Campbell. They are 4 months old. I didn't find out until their tail feathers curled that they are both males. They LOVE to chase the dogs. LOVE it. It's like their favorite pastime. One of my dogs likes to be chased, so it works out, they mainly chase her around and she gets all barky if they chase anyone else. I don't know about everyone, but in my own experience 2 males love to chase dogs. (And they are hormonal teenagers)..

i was at tractor supply getting dog food and feeling sorry for myself for some medical crap that fell on me and there were these tiny beautiful Magpie ducklings under heat lamps. I tried sexing them. The TSC employee helped. One of the ducklings shot a stream of poop directly into the mouth and face of the TSC employee. (You know the carnival game where you shoot water and blow up a balloon... it was exactly like that).
I was so mortified I immediately bought 2 and ran home (in my car) inwardly cringing the whole time.. I mean.. it was awful. The worst part was I couldn't quit laughing. I may have to find a new TSC.

However, back to the point.. The differences in these ducklings are night and day. They love love love me. If they can't see me they freak out. I play animal planet for them during the day while I am working (I work from home) and they are soo soo uber sweet. I don't know if it's the magpie or the female or the compilation of hopefully both.. but I would 11/10 recommend magpie females. (and pray they don't grow wienners)

 

[Tuftul]

Nobody has mentioned this but why do you think your duck died? Predator, poison, swallowed a screw or something? Anyway, my point is possibly to look into that before jumping off the curb and getting more ducks if it's something that needs correcting.

I agree, however we have no idea. She was acting fine during the day. When we put them up she acted like a zombie. Found her floating in the little pool in the am. If you have any suggestions?

The male is acting fine (besides being incredibly lost). I'm extremely worried about him being too lonely.