The Lone Survivor

[chickens really]

Quote: I for one would not begin to baby her.....She will be fine on her own and with you as her Mother...Once the other Ducklings come she will welcome them....No need for a big introduction either...Put them in and they will cuddle to her and her to them....Feed and water her..Keep her clean...Have visits but she will be better off without you and better with the new Ducklings....

Cheers!

 

[Amiga]

Ducks are interesting - sometimes they love each other at first sight, sometimes not. So, hope for the best, and I would have plan B in case there is friction. Older ducklings have sometimes harmed smaller ones. Just no way to know beforehand. I pray it will go well from the first moment they meet.

 

[eilis83]

Ducks are interesting - sometimes they love each other at first sight, sometimes not. So, hope for the best, and I would have plan B in case there is friction. Older ducklings have sometimes harmed smaller ones. Just no way to know beforehand. I pray it will go well from the first moment they meet.

Good idea, Amiga...I didn't think of that. I will probably introduce them on neutral ground outside of the brooder box and away from any food. Make sure the new arrivals as well as Minka are all fed and have had water first. Introduce them with some sort of barrier between them that they are visible to one another through but not contact. Let her get used to that first...don't want to bombard her Thanks for the heads-up, Amiga!

 

[eilis83]

Hello again,

Update on the lone survivor-she's doing great! Has been lonely this past week but everyday we made sure to get her out in the sunshine and let her swim for a bit and forage. Her new family has arrived this morning and it was a slow introduction on neutral ground with no food/drink present. She was terrified of them at first but now she is being quite snippy. Pecking at them one by one and just making sure they know whose top duck. I would be very concerned if she was much bigger than them but she's only older by a week and I dont believe she can do any real harm. Is this normal behavior? I figure she is just sorting out the pecking order...anything I should do or just let things play out?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hello again,

Update on the lone survivor-she's doing great! Has been lonely this past week but everyday we made sure to get her out in the sunshine and let her swim for a bit and forage. Her new family has arrived this morning and it was a slow introduction on neutral ground with no food/drink present. She was terrified of them at first but now she is being quite snippy. Pecking at them one by one and just making sure they know whose top duck. I would be very concerned if she was much bigger than them but she's only older by a week and I dont believe she can do any real harm. Is this normal behavior? I figure she is just sorting out the pecking order...anything I should do or just let things play out?

She is a week older and stronger your new babies are just a few days old so if you have to put somekind of see thru in between till your older one gets use to her new friends I'd do it. The lil ones have been through an oreal being hatched and shipped right away stress of another duckling picking on them might be too much. You older one will eventually warm right up but it may take a day or 2 but in the mean time your giving these new little ones time to relax from their trip. Look forward to pics.

@eilis83 don't know if you've seen this but thought I'd pass it on. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711

 

[quackers619]

I have been following this thread glad to hear she is doing better...........No worries with time you will have a happy flock

 

[eilis83]

I separated them for a while and let the older duckling just get used to their presence in another box. I will reintroduce tomorrow but keep a close eye and see how she does again. Thanks for the tips!

She is a week older and stronger your new babies are just a few days old so if you have to put somekind of see thru in between till your older one gets use to her new friends I'd do it. The lil ones have been through an oreal being hatched and shipped right away stress of another duckling picking on them might be too much. You older one will eventually warm right up but it may take a day or 2 but in the mean time your giving these new little ones time to relax from their trip. Look forward to pics.

@eilis83 don't know if you've seen this but thought I'd pass it on. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711

 

[eilis83]

Ok, so all the ducklings are thriving and happy...except one. I noticed she is the "runt" and everyone seems to be picking on her. I just went to check on them and she was sitting alone and seemed lethargic. I held some food up to her face and she was disinterested. Should I give her some Save a chic? Right now she is perched on my shoulder snuggled into my neck-I didnt want to leave her with the others. Im sorry for all the questions-Im so new to this. Thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ok, so all the ducklings are thriving and happy...except one. I noticed she is the "runt" and everyone seems to be picking on her. I just went to check on them and she was sitting alone and seemed lethargic. I held some food up to her face and she was disinterested. Should I give her some Save a chic? Right now she is perched on my shoulder snuggled into my neck-I didnt want to leave her with the others. Im sorry for all the questions-Im so new to this. Thanks!

@eilis83 You need to keep her warm, ducklings can't regulate their body temp till they are feathered in. Try to see if she'll drink some save a chick in the water might even make the water
luke warm, I'd keep her separated do you have a plastic clear shoe box you could put her in it inside the brooder [with out the lid] That way she can still see her sibs and them her. also the older duckling needs to be able to see the others and them her. Hopefully with some one on one you'll see her bounce back. TLC.

Gently dip her bill into the water but never try to get her to swallow by forcing any down her throat it can get into her air sacs. You can also use a syringe with out a needle and just dribble some along her bill.

 

[eilis83]

@eilis83 You need to keep her warm, ducklings can't regulate their body temp till they are feathered in. Try to see if she'll drink some save a chick in the water might even make the water
luke warm, I'd keep her separated do you have a plastic clear shoe box you could put her in it inside the brooder [with out the lid] That way she can still see her sibs and them her. also the older duckling needs to be able to see the others and them her. Hopefully with some one on one you'll see her bounce back. TLC.

Gently dip her bill into the water but never try to get her to swallow by forcing any down her throat it can get into her air sacs. You can also use a syringe with out a needle and just dribble some along her bill.

Lydia thanks so much for replying.I do not have a clear barrier so she is separated by a board in their brooder, for now. She is sitting directly underneath the heat lamp and not saying a peep. I gave her some save a chick with a dropper like you said just dribbling it and she eventually, albeit tentatively, dipped her bill a few times of her own accord. Still uninterested in eating, however. I will be checking on her throughout the night to give her sips here and there. I hope her chances for survival are high

every time I go out there I dread finding her passed away.