why could a female duck be alone all summer?

[Paraguas]

We have a fairly large pond in the backyard. There is a female duck that is ALWAYS alone. She practically lives in this surrounding area. She swims and quack. Sometimes makes a few splashes. She goes bottom up sometimes, and I imagine she's eating things that live in the water. Its really sad though, because she's never with other ducks. Last year, there was a pair of ducks (couple) in the pond, but this year its only a female. What could be wrong?

 

[Miss Lydia]

We have a fairly large pond in the backyard. There is a female duck that is ALWAYS alone. She practically lives in this surrounding area. She swims and quack. Sometimes makes a few splashes. She goes bottom up sometimes, and I imagine she's eating things that live in the water. Its really sad though, because she's never with other ducks. Last year, there was a pair of ducks (couple) in the pond, but this year its only a female. What could be wrong?

Is this a wild mallard? she maybe a young one who hasn't met up with prince charming yet.

 

[Paraguas]

the males look like mallards around here, so Im assuming she's a mallard. She's fairly small, but Im not sure whether she's young or not.

There are many ponds around our neighborhood and usually they are full of ducks. I've never seen a duck alone, and that's what has bothered me. Do you know if couples move locations every year? I was wondering if this is the female from last year who is now alone.

I read that female ducks do not fair well alone and they get depressed. I guess there's nothing I can do for wild ducks, huh?

):

 

[Miss Lydia]

the males look like mallards around here, so Im assuming she's a mallard. She's fairly small, but Im not sure whether she's young or not.

There are many ponds around our neighborhood and usually they are full of ducks. I've never seen a duck alone, and that's what has bothered me. Do you know if couples move locations every year? I was wondering if this is the female from last year who is now alone.

I read that female ducks do not fair well alone and they get depressed. I guess there's nothing I can do for wild ducks, huh?

):

Not much you can do, but either she has lost her mate or she is young and doesn't have one yet but will next year. I don't know what part of the US your in or even if you are but once migration starts she'll move on with a flock hopefully. desert darlene is the pro on Wild ducks on here so hopefully she can answer about whether they move locations or not that I don't know. I do hope she will go to where there are others though because there is safety in numbers. And it's very nice that your concerned about her too.

 

[blsilver]

We too have a single female duck in our neighborhood and I was wondering why she might be alone. I did think perhaps she had lost her mate but I didn't think about her not having one yet. We live in town and while there are a lot of ducks in the park by the river there are at least 2 pairs and this single female that are choosing to hang out in the neighborhood. I did notice yesterday that she will not join the pair even for feeding. They come and feed at my bird feeder (under it) and she had come to eat but as they approached she puffed up and quacking crossed the road so I put some cracked corn over there so she could go ahead and eat.

 

[dania813]

Hiiiiii….. idk if the duck her is a female or not, to be honest idk what kinda duck it is, what I can tell you is that they are beautiful, the body is the greenish dark marble color, the neck is white and the it also has red/ puckish peaking through on its neck! The duck appears to be blind in one eye, the eye has a glare layer over it! This duck is ALAWAYS alone, there are other ducks in this pond, but this particular duck never roams with them. One they my husband was outside this duck came up to him and he feed the duck, and now everyday like clock work the duck comes to our house and gets feed, we give the duck feed we bought from the store and fresh water!( I hope that’s ok), I feel so bad for it cause there are times we miss the duck so I go to the pond to look for him/ her and the duck is always in the same area by itself while the other ducks are in a group all together on the other side but not to far from this duck. It breaks my heart and I want to do more but idk. The other ducks caught on and try to come to my house to get feed but I notice that they bully my duck so it infuriates me cause I have grown to care and love my duck! I wish I can tell if it’s male or female I feel it is male because the female ducks around are petit while 1EyE seems to be more husky I shall say. Helppppp one can I do to make sure my duck is ok

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sounds like a Muscovy does this duck have read flesh on the face? Called carnucles A picture would help. When your duck is being bullied is it from other drakes? If so that is why your duck isn't allowed to be with the others. He would be the less dominant of the group.

 

[dania813]

 

[dania813]

Yes other drakes, the other ducks have way more red in the face and neck. My duck is ALWAYS alone and it frustrates me. I wish I can do more

 

[Miss Lydia]

This one may be a young one. You've done two positive things you have befriended him and you make sure he gets fed They are like little puppies and he will be your friend forever. You got him the right kind of feed too . Maybe one of these days a lone female will come around you never know. But bless you for taking an interest in him and making him feel special.