Meet Sunny, the one-of-a-kind duck with an irresistible afro and an even more heartwarming story.
Sunny’s name perfectly matches his bright and cheerful personality. Born with a genetic mutation, he sports a fabulous poof of feathers on his head. However, this same mutation also led to health challenges, including blindness in one eye.
In a video shared by GeoBeats Animals, Sunny’s owner, Sarah, recalls the moment she first saw the tiny duckling all alone at a tractor supply store. Instantly drawn to his unique look, she couldn’t resist taking him home. While other ducks didn’t accept him, his partial blindness made him less fearful and more social with other animals—and, of course, with people, especially kids. Sunny was always happy to cuddle up on a lap for a nap.
At first, Sarah didn’t realize Sunny had health issues. But when he stopped growing and developed a respiratory infection, she knew he needed extra care. Determined to help, she made sure her little duckling got everything he needed to thrive.
And thrive he did! Today, Sunny is a happy, healthy, and undeniably dapper adult duck. He’s even an influencer, charming his 12,000 Instagram followers with adorable photos that brighten their days.
Despite his glow-up, the other ducks still don’t fully accept Sunny. But he’s found a true friend—another duck who’s also blind in one eye and rocks a mini pompadour. The two enjoy their own “blind” dates together. After all, birds of a feather stick together!
And let’s be honest, having fewer ducks around just means more watermelon cake for Sunny. Not a bad trade-off!
Caring for a pet with special needs comes with challenges, but it also brings incredible rewards. As Sarah told GeoBeats Animals, “What makes [Sunny] different makes him special. He’s taught us so much just by being who he is.”
Sunny’s story is a reminder that no matter how different we may be, there’s always a place where we belong.