Meet the Ducks
The Jumbo Pekins
Melo, Sheila, Ava, & Bea
This flock of four are from all different backgrounds. Melo is the drake in charge, and he was in the first group of ducks to ever arrive to Sweet Peace! He was originally in a bachelor flock with two other males who were rescued from abandonment on a lake by Good Sprout Rescue & Sanctuary. We tried to make it work, but he just never got along with them! So we decided to build a separate flock centered around Melo’s social needs, as well as the needs of other Jumbo Pekin ducks at the sanctuary. Thus, the dedicated Jumbo Pekin space was born! Melo now has three girlfriends to cherish and protect for the rest of his life. Bea, Ava, and Sheila were all rescued from abandonment from their own different cases through the rescues They All Want to Live and Fair Shake Microsanctuary before being transferred here. There have been other Jumbo Pekins in this flock that have since aged out, and now reside with other disabled ducks that are of the same activity level in our Disabled Crew.
Jumbo Pekins benefit greatly from having their own space to live. Because this breed was developed to grow rapidly for meat consumption, Jumbos will eat themselves to death and suffer from obesity and heart attacks if their diets aren't managed. This breed is also guaranteed to have arthritic joint problems within just a couple years of life, which drastically shortens their lifespan and requires medical treatment such as pain relievers and mobility aids. Having their own dedicated area means we can better monitor them and give them the best quality of life possible.
These friends all get along swimmingly, and are particularly laidback and friendly ducks. The girls all love to forage, make mud, and get their bills messy. They also love when people come to say hi, especially if there are snacks involved!
The Disabled Crew
Chickpea, Winnie, Gloria, Peony, & Geraldine
These friends all came from circumstances ranging from abandonment at public parks, private homes who no longer had the time to care for them, and even another farm sanctuary that turned into a case of hoarding and neglect.
Chickpea is a drake that was found at a park as a very young duckling when a cruel person abandoned him there. He was so hungry and scared that he ran up to a parkgoer for help! Winnie was recovered by Good Sprout Rescue after being found at a campground limping, over-mated, and with a nail embedded in her breast tissue. She received x-rays and periodically enjoys wheelchair time indoors to help address her arthritis. Peony and Gloria were both surrendered by private homes and slowly developed arthritis as they’ve aged here at the sanctuary.
Finally, Geraldine came to us under quite unique circumstances. A nearby farm sanctuary closed down and was pleading for help re-homing their hundreds of birds. When we arrived on-site, we knew that we had to help her. Geraldine is a disabled Crested Pekin who was being kept with other able-bodied ducks that wanted nothing to do with her. She had a chronic, untreated eye infection, dirty feathers, and a limp. We were able to provide her with care from a specialized ophthalmologist and she received an eyelid fusion from our board-certified avian veterinarian.
Together, this flock does no running and wild mating in the spring. There is no crazy splashing or diving in the pool. They spend their days safely resting and enjoying the quiet, peaceful company of other low-energy ducks in their own dedicated living space. We provide both indoor and outdoor spaces for our aging and disabled ducks, all of which have been Jumbo Pekins or Crested Pekins. It is the unavoidable leg conditions and disabilities inherent to Pekin ducks that are the reason why we oppose the intentional breeding of them. Please remember these sweet individuals and the plight they face next time you think of buying ducks.
“The Barn Restaurant” Survivors
Delia, Wilhelmina, Peach, Opal, Ruth, Audrey, Matilda, & Alberta
This group of girls came from a massive neglect case at a restaurant called "The Barn" located in Smithville, Ohio. They were bought and abandoned by the restaurant owners and members of the public on a dirty, filthy pond used as an attraction on the restaurant's property. These ducks would die from starvation and predation and be repeatedly replaced by new ducklings each year. The beautiful individuals you see here were among the last group of 100+ to ever suffer on that pond. Their brothers and sisters had broken bones, nerve damage, severe emaciation, staph infections, lice, respiratory illness, and other indications of horrible neglect by the hands of a restaurant that fought tooth and nail to avoid relinquishing them to safety. Good Sprout Rescue & Sanctuary worked for months to free them, and now all 109 ducks and geese live wonderful lives at sanctuaries and private homes.
These girls went their whole lives unnamed, unmonitored, and uncared for. Now they live in a place where they know they are free to be ducks in the safety of sanctuary. Ducks know when they are safe, and these girls are testament to that. They love to chase bugs, swim in our pools, and socialize with the other resident ducks. Some, like Matilda, are more outgoing with people - while others are more shy and skittish! They are all beautiful Rouen, Khaki Campbell, and Saxony mixes, flightless and dependent on humans for survival. We are so happy that the rescue community of central Ohio saved their lives and that these girls can live with us happily forever.
The Muscovies
Primrose, Violet, Holly, Aster, Sunflower, & Marigold
Muscovies are different from other domestic ducks in that some are capable of flight, they enjoy perching at high spots, and they are highly cliquey! These six girls spend lots of time together or in pairs. They have distinct and sassy personalities, with their own communication style using quiet voices, head-bobbing, and wagging their tails. Unlike other female ducks, they do not quack, but talk to one another through a variety of softly-spoken squeaks and hisses.
All six but Violet were found abandoned in the wild, or having escaped their farms. Muscovies are frequently used for duck meat and foie gras, and Sunflower, Marigold, and Violet all received barbaric and inhumane beak-clipping procedures at their former farms to prevent them from causing damage when pecking one another out of stress. Though we are grateful for any escapes from abusive circumstances, these South American birds do not fare well on their own either. Sunflower, Marigold, and Primrose all have significant foot deformities from frostbite. Despite these differences, they continue to enjoy their lives in sanctuary. A couple of these girls, particularly Aster and Holly, even love to fly and perch on top of coops!
The Mixed Flock
Bean & Sprout
These buddies had numbered days before our friends at Good Sprout Rescue and Sanctuary recovered them from a pond in the middle of winter. Without their hard work and sacrifice, we hate to think of what might have happened to these two. Domestic ducks aren't prepared to survive on their own in the wild. Especially during the winter, abandoned ducks face the threat of starvation, predation, injuries, and temperatures they cannot withstand. It is never a kind choice to release unwanted ducks to the wild.
The first individuals to join the sanctuary, these bonded friends can now live out their days together in peace and protection. Bean and Sprout are inseparable, Sprout's small stature an understatement to his fiery and commandeering personality. His loyal and mild-mannered buddy Bean is always by his side!
Bette & Odessa
Bette and Odessa are two adult Khaki Campbells that came from a private home. They are very sociable ladies and, true to their Khaki Campbell nature, love to zip and run around. They are quite curious and energetic!
Bette arrived with a large sore on one of her toes called a bumble, causing an extremely painful condition called bumblefoot. This type of sore can be treated at home when caught early, but unfortunately this sore had progressed to the point that it required surgery twice. Surgery is quite dangerous for birds when anesthesia is involved. Luckily, Bette went through her surgeries like a champion and fully recovered, allowing her to use her foot for all the best ducky things again!
Dogwood, Beatriz, & Henrietta
These girls came from a compassionate home that wanted to make the best choice for them despite their time constraints. So, these silly girls joined our family! Though they enjoy intermingling with the other guys and gals, they still join up as best pals when it comes time for a swim or when it's time for bed.
These girls are mischievous and full of personality. They often mount each other in the pool and stay up late looking for tasty bugs in the night. They definitely give me trouble when it comes time for bed. These gal pals have a very strong bond and do a lot of activities together. They also go crazy when it comes time for eggs! They have taught the other ducks that they can flock together and chase me around or even steal eggshells before I'm done cracking them all. Providing love and care for ducks can really make them into boisterous and confident people.
Jetsam & Dolce
This pair of lovebirds were rescued on two separate occasions from the same spot in Allentown called Cedar Beach Park. Jetsam is quite unique — usually abandoned ducks are fully domestic, but this guy is half Mallard! He was likely born in the wild, but his body was not suited to survive out there. When we spotted him at the park, he had a limp and was being picked on by the Mallard flock he was relying on for safety. He had a severe staph infection on his foot and needed help right away. He could never survive because he cannot fly or migrate as well as fully wild mallards. His girlfriend, Dolce, was suffering in a similar way at the park. She had a gnarly sinus infection that made her cheek swell up with fluid. To be scared and abandoned is one thing, but being sick on top of that must have been terrible. She made a quick recovery with antibiotics at the sanctuary, and the rest is history for these two! They fell in love here at Sweet Peace. We like to think they bonded over having similar origins at the same park, and now they are always side-by-side in safety.
Ash & Olive
All too often, young animals are bought as toys or commodities for children to play with and then discard when the novelty dissipates. Unfortunately for ducks like Ash and Olive, life is never that simple. Every animal is a unique individual that requires appropriate space, nutrition, enrichment, and social opportunity. Buying and discarding animals risks their lives and creates pressure for sanctuaries that can only help so many.
These two will never have to worry about being treated like a toy again. Our little "black Olive" is an adorable ball of quacking feathers, practically glued at the hip to her best friend Ash. Ash is a quiet, gentle soul and compliments Olive's fiery energy. What sets them apart from other ducks is not only their intense bond, but also that they spend tons of time in the pool no matter what the weather is like. Olive is a prolific swimmer and Ash is her lifeguard!
Mirage, Megumi, & Myrtle
This trio of sisters were saved by a Good Samaritan after their nest was abandoned in an apartment complex. Their mom's body was found near the nest, and she was unfortunately an abandoned domestic duck that could have never survived and raised her ducklings in the wild. A kind young man saved the trio and their other siblings, and ensured that they would not become food for predators or abused by unkind humans at that apartment complex.
This beautiful trio of girls are all half Indian Runner, the breed of their mother. They tend to stick to themselves but all have distinct personalities! Megumi is the smallest and has a crest on her head, and she makes very loud quacks. Mirage is skittish and puts up a fight any time she has to be handled. Myrtle is the taller gray sister and has a more easy-going personality. They all love to swim together and forage with the other ducks!
Butterscotch & Cookie Dough
Butterscotch and Cookie Dough aren't just named after sweet treats because of their golden brown plumage, but also because they are actually very comfortable around people. It's so sad that someone would lovingly raise them and then abandon them on a pond. Luckily, a volunteer of They All Want to Live was at the right place at the right time, and made it her goal to safely retrieve them after their abandonment was witnessed!
These girls are close friends with other lake dump victims of the sanctuary, Jetsam and Dolce. They love to follow him around and bob their heads. They are rarely seen without each other, though that might be to our advantage. Cookie Dough just has a few lighter feathers on her back than her sister Butterscotch. They are nearly identical twins and have so much fun together swimming, sunbathing, and chasing bugs.
Claire
Claire is a petite Indian Runner duck and unique in many ways. She was imprinted on humans from her previous care situation and took months to transition to be outside with the duck family. We had to do this slowly so that it's less traumatic for her. Ducklings should always be kept in pairs for this reason, which is so that they can develop the normal emotional and physical habits of ducks and this is prevented from happening!
Claire has a mobility disability caused by having a dislocated knee joint. Since she has had it since being a duckling, it does not cause her any pain, and is something her body has adapted to. It does make her movement slow and vulnerable, so living in an aviary with the rest of our duck family is a must. Claire is super sweet and sociable, and loves hanging out with her boyfriend Ash or the golden girls Cookie Dough, Butterscotch, and Dolce!
Clementine
Standing tall, Clementine is an adorable Indian Runner duck that was abandoned with many others in Hummelstown, PA at Bullfrog Valley Park. She relied on food from parkgoers to survive, and one particularly dedicated gentleman who visited often. Other ducks from this group had severe staph infections and this group would likely not have survived the winter without rescue. Today, Clementine is closest friends with another Indian Runner named Claire, and she enjoys swimming, preening, and foraging with her friends in safety!
Mia
Mia is an energetic Khaki Campbell mix who arrived to Sweet Peace from the same sanctuary hoarding case that our disabled duck Geraldine came from. Unfortunately, Mia was hatched out of negligence there and was not given specialized duckling care, so her legs are somewhat bent and deformed. We will continue to monitor Mia for signs of arthritis as she gets older, but for now, she has many friends and she is a happy and healthy member of the Mixed Flock.
Kimya
Little Rouen Kimya has been through a lot in her young life! She originally had a somewhat normal start in a backyard flock, which she then decided to escape and ended up in someone else’s yard. Her owners first tried to find her, but ultimately decided to let her stay at the new place she found! Sadly Kimya did not have other duck friends there, only humans and dogs who loved her very much, but could not provide her the proper housing, swimming, or flock that she needs to thrive. They sought help from Sweet Peace and the rest is history! Kimya is still outgoing and comfortable around humans, but prefers the company of other ducks just like her.
Leona
Leona is a resilient Khaki Campbell that earned her name from surviving the horrible circumstances she came from. Among over 300 other birds crammed in filthy, ramshackle cages at a cockfighting bust, Leona was sequestered with five chickens in a dark and disgusting pen in a back corner of the property. When I saw her I knew that I had to get her out of there as fast as I could. Soon Leona was liberated, and after a period of quarantine, she became part of the Mixed Flock. Everything was so new! Places to run, forage, swim, other ducks just like her! Leona raced all over and could not believe her eyes. Sometimes ducks raised in social isolation don’t get along with other ducks, but it was no problem for her and she quickly bonded with the other Khaki girls. Today she is cherished, and enjoys all that life has to offer a beautiful and courageous duck!
Margot
Margot loves to run, jump, and explore! She is a Rouen duck that was surrendered by a local family when she was hatched in a group of five males. Being the only girl, she started to receive a bit more attention than she could really handle. Instead of getting rid of all the males, her family decided to make the incredibly compassionate decision to have a bachelor flock. Extremely few duck caretakers decide to keep only males! They wanted the best for Margot, and waited for weeks as we worked on other rescues before we could finally accommodate her in quarantine. Margot enjoys having the company of more females and being able to choose when and who she mates with now.