The sad death of Daffy

[duckman4450]

My baby mallard Daffy died in the early hours of this morning. We think she choked because she often had a hard time swallowing food to the point where I had to dunk her bill to make her drink and I had to monitor her.

She was found at about 630 this morning by my mom. My dad then took her out of the cage and wrapped her and I will bury her tomorrow my other baby Bubbles had her head on top of Daffy's body all night after she died (incredibly sad) and when my dad took Daffy out he said Bubbles was crying louder than he's ever heard

Anyway all day today Bubbles has been following me around and peeping forever until I come back to the basement with her. I've had her outside all day with me to get her mind off of Daffy and took her to the garden to dig up some worms and gave her millet, her 2 favorite things in the world. Whenever I leave she peeps like CRAZY and if she knows the direction I went she will SPRINT towards me. I was sitting in my yard with a few of my parents friends and my parents and they were petting her and stuff, and I got up to turn the hose on to fill her pool and she took off after me even with 5 people around her giving her love. She is so dependent on me, she won't even eat unless I'm next to her cage and she won't swim unless I'm in the opposite corner of the exit of the pool. She just doesn't go more than a few feet from me and she will cry like crazy if she wonders away from me more than 10 feet until I call her and she darts over to me and lays down. Even when she's right next to she will peep until I say "it's okay girl."

Well after all of that depressing story is my real question. I need to get a new baby mallard from the same hatchery because she cannot be this dependent on me. It isn't fair to her because I will be at school everyday and she can't live by herself. I've tried to put stuffed animal ducks but she doesn't care. Is it okay to get a just hatched (day old) duck to be Bubbles friend? My parents are afraid she will be too aggressive toward a just born duck since Bubbles is much larger than one. Or would it be better to get one around the same age as Bubbles? Thanks In advance

 

[Amiga]

Sad to read of your loss.

See if you can find a similar aged duckling, or set up the brooder so the ducklongs can be right next to each other with a light fence between them for a few weeks.
:-(

 

[Dianuzhka]

 

[desertdarlene]

Was Daffy the one with the weird bald spot? Sorry I couldn't help more with that.

I agree with Amiga with getting a similar aged duckling, or keeping them separated, but where they can see each other.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So sorry for your loss,

you may check craigslist and find just the right aged duckling for Bubbles I hope so if not do the above she deff needs a buddy, you are so sweet to be so concerned for her happiness.

 

[CayugaLover]

i am so sorry for you!!!! i had a very similar experiance with my muscovies. i think that a similar aged duckling is a good idea also. when one of my two muscovie ducklings died, i tried to cheer up the survivor by giving her a keet(baby guinea) as a buddy, but the keet was to young, and though they were cute together, it didn't work out the way i wanted it to. if you can't find a duckling, sometimes chickens will work. they worked for me, and my muscovie is still friends with the chicks i bonded with her. i hope you find a duckling that works!

 

[duckman4450]

Sad to read of your loss.
See if you can find a similar aged duckling, or set up the brooder so the ducklongs can be right next to each other with a light fence between them for a few weeks.
:-(

Ill see what i can do. I should be getting a new one soon. Thanks

 

[zooweemama]

I'm sorry you lost Daffy. Bubbles does need a friend and you are such a good duck parent to realize that. Craigslist is often filled with ducks for sale- usually a month old or more. I hope you can find one close in age to her so Bubbles has a new friend. <3