I have one lone female pekin ducks. We originally had 3 and raised them as pets but sadly 2 have died. She's been alone since (about a 1.5 year) and she's almost 3.
She no longer lays eggs either. About a year ago, she developed a big belly, and the vet took a sample, tested it and diagnosed her with egg yolk peritonitis. I honestly was not expecting her to live much longer but she was drained, we've done a few rounds of antibiotics and I give her drops of oil of oregano daily. Her belly is no longer growing (although it's still big) and she's still standing strong!
Well, we are going on vacation for 6 days next month and I don't have options for care. Her vet charges about 1,000$ and we can't afford that. I don't know anyone that has ducks that could care for her. And there are no experienced sitters in my area - and we need experience because she can't go into the coop by herself due to the belly. I pick her up and put her in there every night. She's very sweet and friendly, and loves to be pet.
Her coop is set up with lots of technology. We have 2 automatic feeders with cameras, a set up that constantly provides fresh water, fans and screened windows in the coop. We also have a camera that sees the entire coop.... and a big mirror inside, which helps her not be lonely.
It's all remotely controlled as well. So I know we can go for a week and she could stay in her coop (it's pretty big) and have access to fresh food and water.
However I'm concerned about her getting lonely.
Ever since her sisters died, she's been alone. But she gets out of the coop into the yard pretty much every day (she starts quacking if I take too long to let her out), gets pet, has some interaction with me and the dog, is out in the yard all day .... and at the end of the day when I put her in I give her a little bit of people food as a topper with her oil of oregano drops.
Bottom line is that I know she'd be safe, and have access to fresh feed and water. But I'm concerned about get feeling abandoned, lonely or depressed.
Can she die of loneliness in 6 days?
Anyone has experience with something similar?
She no longer lays eggs either. About a year ago, she developed a big belly, and the vet took a sample, tested it and diagnosed her with egg yolk peritonitis. I honestly was not expecting her to live much longer but she was drained, we've done a few rounds of antibiotics and I give her drops of oil of oregano daily. Her belly is no longer growing (although it's still big) and she's still standing strong!
Well, we are going on vacation for 6 days next month and I don't have options for care. Her vet charges about 1,000$ and we can't afford that. I don't know anyone that has ducks that could care for her. And there are no experienced sitters in my area - and we need experience because she can't go into the coop by herself due to the belly. I pick her up and put her in there every night. She's very sweet and friendly, and loves to be pet.
Her coop is set up with lots of technology. We have 2 automatic feeders with cameras, a set up that constantly provides fresh water, fans and screened windows in the coop. We also have a camera that sees the entire coop.... and a big mirror inside, which helps her not be lonely.
It's all remotely controlled as well. So I know we can go for a week and she could stay in her coop (it's pretty big) and have access to fresh food and water.
However I'm concerned about her getting lonely.
Ever since her sisters died, she's been alone. But she gets out of the coop into the yard pretty much every day (she starts quacking if I take too long to let her out), gets pet, has some interaction with me and the dog, is out in the yard all day .... and at the end of the day when I put her in I give her a little bit of people food as a topper with her oil of oregano drops.
Bottom line is that I know she'd be safe, and have access to fresh feed and water. But I'm concerned about get feeling abandoned, lonely or depressed.
Can she die of loneliness in 6 days?
Anyone has experience with something similar?
