A small
pile of delicate feathers
The story of Luni, a young runner duck
The little Luni had several siblings - but only she survived. A young woman told us the sad story. Her grandmother's duck had killed her young, only Luni survived. She now has a forever home at Gut Aiderbichl in Henndorf in Henndorf. The young lady lovingly asks again and again how Luni is doing.
At least it is now clear that that Luni is a femalee running duck is a female runner. When she handed in the sex could not yet be determined - it was so small and tiny she was then still.
The duck has killed its chicks
Why animals sometimes kill their offspring
Infanticide in the animal kingdom is more common than we would like to believe. Baboons, chimpanzees, mice, rabbits, pigs, etc. may attack or eat their young. For a long time, infanticide was considered an unnatural and pathological behavior of animals.
Through scientific observations, studies and observations of wild animals, humans are learning that infanticide is a natural behavior.
Why are they killed? - If living conditions are poor, the offspring are used as a source of food. Females in particular are good at estimating how successfully their young will survive. If the conditions are not satisfactory, the young are killed or eaten. Often it is also about the mother's milk. In order to prevent the young of other females from "stealing" the milk, they are killed.
In the animal kingdom, it is also common for weak or handicapped offspring to be killed. In the wild, such animals would find it difficult or even impossible to survive.
The offspring can also be injured accidentally. This happens, for example, when an "inexperienced mother animal" bites off the umbilical cord after birth and accidentally bites off a little arm or leg.
Why did Luni's mom kill her siblings?
Was it natural behavior, perhaps because the young runner ducks were not healthy, or was it an accident? We will never know the answer and can only speculate as to why all but Luni had to die.
Luni has a surrogate mom - Romina
Luni herself is doing wonderfully. The feathers are growing and Luni has found a surrogate mother. Romina, a Brahma chicken, has decided to be a protective friend to little Luni. Romina herself hatched at Gut Aiderbichl and is now introducing the little runner duck Luni to the wonderful, protected life at Gut Aiderbichl.
With the little Luni Romina has now found a wonderful task. She lovingly protects and walks with little Luni and has become a really proud surrogate mother.
All creatures on earth feel like us, all creatures strive for happiness like us. All creatures on earth love, suffer and die like us, so they are equal works of the almighty Creator - our brothers.
~ Francis of Assisi (1182 - 1226)
