Ideas for keeping a lame duck entertained??

[Chikenshiken]

My duck was severely disabled because of an animal attack almost two years ago. He’s been fine up until this winter were he 1. Can’t swim everyday anymore and 2. Lost his mate to a dog attack

He seems bored and depressed and I’m struggling to come up with ideas to keep him entertained for the time being while I try to find a new girlfriend for him. He’s also got a support duck stuffed animal right now that’s been keeping him company. I’ve thought of maybe foraging mats and sprinkling treats around but that’s really my only idea? Anyone else?

 

[Jenbirdee]

unbreakable mirror
so he can see himself
some ducks even talk to the duck in the mirror

 

[BDutch]

Im no duck expert at all but I know they like water very much. Maybe a kind of baby swimming pool or something else to bath in, is something she would enjoy. Like water in a container to prevent leaking water from a washing machine?

 

[Fawkes]

My ducks love to nibble on things. I buy them baby toys and dog toys and I also give them things from around the house, such as a shallow plastic cup that they can mess around with.

Ducks love sensory things (their bills are like our hands when it comes to touch) and they love dabbling in water, so giving different containers (for variety) with water and different kinds of food mixed in or floating balls would be fun.

The dollar store and chewy have a good selection of toys. Just be careful that there's nothing dangerous on them e.g. a loop that he can get his head/neck stuck in, anything small enough to swallow, etc.

Here's some quick examples of toys my ducks have:

https://www.chewy.com/dp/53073?utm_source=app-share&utm_campaign=53073

https://www.chewy.com/dp/111168?utm_source=app-share&utm_campaign=111168

https://www.chewy.com/dp/38583?utm_source=app-share&utm_campaign=38583

 

[Chikenshiken]

My ducks love to nibble on things. I buy them baby toys and dog toys and I also give them things from around the house, such as a shallow plastic cup that they can mess around with.

Ducks love sensory things (their bills are like our hands when it comes to touch) and they love dabbling in water, so giving different containers (for variety) with water and different kinds of food mixed in or floating balls would be fun.

The dollar store and chewy have a good selection of toys. Just be careful that there's nothing dangerous on them e.g. a loop that he can get his head/neck stuck in, anything small enough to swallow, etc.

Here's some quick examples of toys my ducks have:

https://www.chewy.com/dp/53073?utm_source=app-share&utm_campaign=53073

https://www.chewy.com/dp/111168?utm_source=app-share&utm_campaign=111168

https://www.chewy.com/dp/38583?utm_source=app-share&utm_campaign=38583

Oh wow I have never heard of any ducks being interested in toys, the thought had never even crossed my mind. He really loves fabric and loves to nibble on my pants so now I’m wondering if he’d love toys. Thank you so much, this is a really good idea!
Maybe I can also use ball pit type balls and float them in his water with some meal worms as some extra sensory as well

 

[Chikenshiken]

Im no duck expert at all but I know they like water very much. Maybe a kind of baby swimming pool or something else to bath in, is something she would enjoy. Like water in a container to prevent leaking water from a washing machine?

This seems like a good shallow pool for him! I do have a pool right now but it’s broken and its also below freezing here quite often. He’s actually unable to preen himself properly so his feathers aren’t quite waterproof anymore and I have to dry him off on sunny days with a towel so it’s the only reason he hasn’t been swimming this whole winter

 

[Fawkes]

Oh wow I have never heard of any ducks being interested in toys, the thought had never even crossed my mind. He really loves fabric and loves to nibble on my pants so now I’m wondering if he’d love toys. Thank you so much, this is a really good idea!
Maybe I can also use ball pit type balls and float them in his water with some meal worms as some extra sensory as well

No problem! I started giving toys to ducklings I think as they *really* love to chew and then continued giving them even as adults since they still enjoy them.

I rotate toys or they get bored of them after awhile.

Being lame, your duck might especially like soft things that he can both pick at and lay on. Like a reusable puppy pad, fleece throw, absorbent bath mat, a pillow (with fleece over top of it to protect it from poop).

My indoor ducks are pampered when it comes to that stuff haha. They just love soft things and it contains their mess for me since they're absorbent, wash easily, and you can pick the poop off easily too.

I recently got this bath mat and my older duck who has bumblefoot loves it as it's so fluffy and thick: https://a.co/d/2ZWLAYf

 

[cheezenkwackers]

When I raised lone ducklings I gave them hanging parrot toys. I even made one by stringing sea shells alternating with popsicle sticks with a hole drilled in them on a piece of twine. They loved to mess with them. They especially liked the ones with little mirrors on the end.

 

[Miss Lydia]

When my ducks are young and still inside they loved this treat ball if your duck can walk he may enjoy this. https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/chicken-fun-ball I think TSC carries them. Another toy I have hanging outside is a ball with a bell inside of it my adult drake loves it he always has to go over and hit it a few times to ring the bell. Maybe he wants room service lol