A single duckling brooder box?

[my spoiled chickens]

So I should opt for maybe a duck under a week old to add in with my one week old duck? And should I just get one other companion or multiple? I’d hate for two or three newbies to band together and never bond with mine. :-(

I don't think that would be a problem. if it does happen then maybe you could put one with your current ducks and then after a day or two you could add in the others(If you get more than two)

 

[Serrogateduckmom]

Where did you get this duckling?
Do you have other fowl?

My duck hatched it. I’ve got other adult ducks.

 

[aart]

My duck hatched it. I’ve got other adult ducks.

The duck who hatched it is not taking care of it?
(maybe I missed that part?)

 

[KathiQuacks]

Definitely best to get Chirp a friend, yes. I’ve had 2 ducks who were raised alone, and while they were able to socialize eventually, it took one 5.5 weeks, and the other 3 months to do so.. Having a friend to grow up with will bypass that greatly.

A mirror or stuffed animal will help until you can get Chirp a friend.

Ducklings introduced that young will have no problem bonding. They may bicker for a day or so, but that’s all.

Ducklings should stay in a brooder / coop until they’re fully grown, or ~2 months old. When full grown, they can free range during the day but should still be cooped up over night.

I wasn’t able to find a good duck diaper, personally, but I’m sure they exist somewhere. I haven’t needed them anyway, since my ducks are outdoors most of the time.

 

[Serrogateduckmom]

The duck who hatched it is not taking care of it?
(maybe I missed that part?)

No

 

[cheezenkwackers]

If you have other ducks you do not necessarily need a friend. A friend does make your life easier though. I have had a couple single ducklings as I tried hatching Dutch Hookbill’s for the first time. I kept my last duckling in a large aquarium (75 gallon) in my house. He had a big mirror, toys l, and a stuffed duck to snuggle with. I gave him lots of swim time in the bathtub or a busboy tub (started out slowly at first), to make sure he got enough exercise. Single ducklings tend to be couch potatoes and develop leg issues and angle wing as a result. I fed mine Mazuri waterfowl which floats so he would swim for it.
I took him to school with me every week day in a canvas bag with a plastic tub inside lined with a puppy pad (shelf liner too when he was young). Eventually his head stuck out the top and everyone called him my bag duck.

Even from a young age we visited the big ducks. In your ducklings mind, you are mom and you are introducing him to the flock. I would just sit cross-legged and he sat in my lap. Eventually, I had him stay in a crate by the big ducks for longer and longer amounts of time. Eventually, he wanted to stay with them at night also. He is now, a year later, the head drake of my flock of eight. He has not suffered any social issues. I will mention that he was the only drake with 6 girls when he joined the flock.

 

[Serrogateduckmom]

Definitely best to get Chirp a friend, yes. I’ve had 2 ducks who were raised alone, and while they were able to socialize eventually, it took one 5.5 weeks, and the other 3 months to do so.. Having a friend to grow up with will bypass that greatly.

A mirror or stuffed animal will help until you can get Chirp a friend.

Ducklings introduced that young will have no problem bonding. They may bicker for a day or so, but that’s all.

Ducklings should stay in a brooder / coop until they’re fully grown, or ~2 months old. When full grown, they can free range during the day but should still be cooped up over night.

I wasn’t able to find a good duck diaper, personally, but I’m sure they exist somewhere. I haven’t needed them anyway, since my ducks are outdoors most of the time.

I just got Chirp a mirror and a stuffed friend and he has been happily sitting in front of the mirror and snuggling his friend! Great advice!! Thank you.

 

[Serrogateduckmom]

If you have other ducks you do not necessarily need a friend. A friend does make your life easier though. I have had a couple single ducklings as I tried hatching Dutch Hookbill’s for the first time. I kept my last duckling in a large aquarium (75 gallon) in my house. He had a big mirror, toys l, and a stuffed duck to snuggle with. I gave him lots of swim time in the bathtub or a busboy tub (started out slowly at first), to make sure he got enough exercise. Single ducklings tend to be couch potatoes and develop leg issues and angle wing as a result. I fed mine Mazuri waterfowl which floats so he would swim for it.
I took him to school with me every week day in a canvas bag with a plastic tub inside lined with a puppy pad (shelf liner too when he was young). Eventually his head stuck out the top and everyone called him my bag duck.

Even from a young age we visited the big ducks. In your ducklings mind, you are mom and you are introducing him to the flock. I would just sit cross-legged and he sat in my lap. Eventually, I had him stay in a crate by the big ducks for longer and longer amounts of time. Eventually, he wanted to stay with them at night also. He is now, a year later, the head drake of my flock of eight. He has not suffered any social issues. I will mention that he was the only drake with 6 girls when he joined the flock.
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Wow what a wonderful outcome for your duck! I bring mine by his parents to hear them quack and have done so since day number two. I feel his little body calm a bit when he is listening to them and chirping back at them. I wished for his mom to take to him but she hasn’t yet :-( I will continue to desensitize her to his existence and maybe she will come around

 

[Serrogateduckmom]

How old is your duck? They should because He is older but there are more of them so the odds are even

He is one week old

 

[Penpal]

The mother duck doesn't know Chirp is her baby. Get him friends but try to set up a situation so that they can see the big ducks and the big ducks can see them. The sooner they get together the better. Keep them adjacent for a couple of days then let them be together. You'll probably find one of the ducks adopts the ducklings, but you have to keep watch.