Helppp! Duckling in my garden

[mazza]

Please can anyone help? :notworthy:

I have just found a duckling in my garden cheeping away frantically. I have two cats who were staring at it with bemusement, so I have rescued it and put it in a cardbaord box for now.

It doesn't look injured...I have no pond, I have a solid fence, I have NO IDEA how it got here :blink:.

it is so very young, a matter of days old, a week at most ?

Oh help!! I don't want it to die of shock!! I also don't know if it is wise to put it in the nearest river... Help!! :shout:

(can u tell I am panicking?)

[marieuk]

Oh mazza how sweet, is it possible that the cats could have brought it in to garden???????????

Try not to panic there is 24hour RSPC help line why not try that and see if they can give you any advice ??? take to river or not i am soory but i do not have number handy on me, ignore that as just found it 0870 55 55 999

Link for emergency RSPCA advice is

http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?...d=1000905087364 (http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/RSPCARedirect&pg=AdviceCentre&marker=1&articleId=1000905087364)




Love Muk xxxx

[mazza]

Gosh thanks marieuk, that's great :D

Oh lordy, I hope it lives, it does seem pretty feisty, but must need something to eat by now... :unsure: .

[Lady Penelope]

:o Oh no mazza, I would be panicking too :bigeyes:



Poor little mite, I hope the rspca can help you. If not I would leave it in the cardboard box with some paper torn up to keep it warm for tonight.



Don't they eat slugs and worms and things? Slugs and snails are about late at night, if your lucky you might catch a few tonight :bigeyes:



:unsure: oh dear what a worry. Let us know what happens in the morning.

[mazza]

I just want to get it through the night until I can get hold of someone I know who is a member of the RSPB (darn, he's not answering his phone) . Or the local wildlfe rescue centre.

I had a quick scan around the net and have become a duckling expert by midnight...so I have set a lamp up with 60 watt lightbulb over part of the box so the little thing can get heat. I have also put a saucer with water down and some seeded bread crumbs soaked in the water (luckily I had some 'posh bread this week, eh?!).

I just checked on it and it is fast asleep!!! :wow: It must like the heat from the lightbulb then :D .

Looks like I'm in for a long night anyway... :rolleyes: .

[Neighboured]

You are a star! :notworthy: :thumbs:

Hope all is well with your little friend.

[marieuk]

Oh well done Mazza you must have made it lovely and cosy, how was the night hope it was not too long and hope you got a little rest too if not i think some :coffee: :coffee: is in order how were ur cats did they take it being in the house ok?

love Muk xx

[mazza]

:thumbs: Our little mate has got through the night fine, it is in fine fettle. I think it thinks I am it's mummy already - it cheeps like mad when I go near the box or leave the box. Awww :wub:

It's eaten a few crumbs/seeds and had a few beaks of water, phew. :blush:

I'll call whoever I can this am to see what to do. All I want to know is if I can just put it with a set of ducklings on the river...or will it be rejected.

Blimey, I still can't work out what on earth it is doing anywhere near where I live...it's nowhere near the river!

[marieuk]

Well done Mazza :clap2: :clap2: or should that be mummy???? :P how sweet



Love Muk xxx

[Eeyore]

Oh Mazza, that is so sweet :) and well done you for being it's new mummy :P

I hope the RSPCA offer you some advice and help, when we had ducks in the street recently I rang the local Waterfowl park, and they were as much use as a chocolate fireguard :( Have you a loacl wildlife trust? You could maybe ring them for advice? Or if your local authority employs an ecologist, they might be able to offer advice.

[er 59]

hi mazza



well done for managing to look after the poor duck all night hope you get some advice today

if you arent near a river is it possible that it is someones pet and its wandered your way maybe someone nearby keeps them just a thought :)

[Annabel]

:notworthy: :notworthy: looks like you might have a new pet, methinks! :lol: how fantastic! :rolleyes:

[Domestic Goddess]

DON'T return it to a pond where there are other ducklings !!! It will be seen by their mother as an intruder and attacked. I only know this as my Nan made the same mistake years and years ago. She found a mummy duck with her ducklings and released her foundling near to them. The mother duck went beserk, and, to my nan's horror, attacked the duckling and pecked it to death,
Once a duckling is separated from it's mother for a few hours, she will not accept it back.

I think you'll have to give it to a shelter or keep it as a pet.

Wasn't it lucky that someone as lovely as you found it?!! Have you any pics that we can see??

[mazza]

:D I have some piccies, will try and post one later :thumbs:

I kinda thought it would be rejected too, I didn't dare put it back in the river...

Anyway..I have spoken to a lovely lady at an animal rescue centre in my region who said I had made her day by phoning her about the duck. Apparently she is duck crazy and has a brill set up at the rescue centre for ducks!! :D

So I will pop our foundling down there later :thumbs: .

In the meantime, I have the little duck in my pocket (a big army shirt so it has huuge pockets) and it is happy as anything :) . I was told to put it there to keep it warm and secure...I just hope I don't forget it is in there and squash it - eeep! :o

I got given some 'duck crumb' from my local shop, bless 'em, so it's all going very well indeed :D .

It is so very sweet, follows my littlest smallest mazza about the floor - it thinks he's it's ma! :wub:

So...panic over, I am now an expert in duckling care! :lol:
Aw, if only I had a pond.... :rolleyes:

[Beth]

Aw bless! well done you mazza, you must be shattered after duck sitting all night!

[Annabel]

thats such a lovely story and a happy ending as well :D :notworthy: :thumbs: you did good! :rolleyes:

[Eeyore]

That's brilliant, your duck will be well looked after and you've saved it's life IMO :)

Well done Mazza :D

[Domestic Goddess]

I'm welling up now!!! :cry_more:

Perhaps we should make it the official forum mascot?!!

[mazza]

[attachmentid=1269]Here's our little friend :) .

[er 59]

hi mazza



oh its so cute well done for saving it :notworthy:

[mazza]

[attachmentid=1271] And another...Aw, I would love to adopt it!!

[Annabel]

the little angel of him...oooh I want one!!! :wub: :wub: :wub:

[StoneHenge]

That is so sweet Mazza.

Well done you for saving it (I would have been the same, and just as soppy). It will be well looked after and you saved a ducky's life - how cool is that! I bet he misses you already!

[Eeyore]

How gorgeous :blush:

We've ducklings on the pond at work that just like your baby, sooooo sweet

[Domestic Goddess]

Oh how cute!!! I want one!!!!

[Bonkers Mad!!!]

Awwww :wub: i want one too :lol:

well done mazza, any chance of you keeping it? :rolleyes:

[mazza]

I really wish I could keep it, it is such fun!

I have just spent a good hour feeding it chick crumb from my hand and having it chase me about the house :wub: .

I would love to adopt it, but it's not the best place for it here :sad: .

I think I am going to be gutted when I have to give it away later :crybaby: .

If I move house....I want a pond and ducks!!! :shout:

[mazza]

[attachmentid=1272]Baby's first bath! :lol:

[Annabel]

omg,omg, what are you trying to do to me :wub: :wub:

[Eeyores mam]

That is just so sweet. It gives you a lovely, warm glow.

Well done Mazza :D

[Bonkers Mad!!!]

that is so so cute :wub: :wub:

[marieuk]

Hi Mazza those pictures are soooooooooo sweet i think we all want one now lOve Muk xx

[Omega]

Well done Mazza for being so caring :thumbs:

It is so cute and cuddley :wub: You're such a good surrogate "mummyduck" :rolleyes:

[Miss Understood]

Mazza,

Well done you for being so humanitarian (or is it duckitarian?)

Have you dropped it off to the rescue centre yet?

[change for the best]

Great story and a huge well done for helping the little thing!

It's that time of year when baby birds are all around but remember, if you find a baby bird in your garden and it is not in danger of being eaten by a cat then leave it alone and let mum & dad take care of it. They know where it is and will keep feeding it and helping it until it can fly properly.

I rescued a sparrow from the fatty catty who thought it was a nice toy .... I put it up on a shed roof and mum & dad started sqawking at me! Flippin ingrates.

The one idea I do have about how the duckling got there is this ...... Seagulls will attack duckling and can carry them in their beaks. If your garden in completely enclosed and the poor thing didn't have teeth marks from the cats then perhaps the seagull drop him/her. Those stubby little wings act as parachutes and he could survive a fall.

[phantos02]

Aw... that last picture really is the cutest!!!!

Well done Mazza you did good :thumbs:

[Lady Penelope]

:lol: Aw gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous :wub: Well done mazza on keeping the diddle dee nice and warm. Too late mate.....yer his mom now :blush:



I had a thought that maybe as cftb said that maybe a seagull or a heron plucked little diddle dumpling away. Heard about the goldfish that was dropped by a heron down a chappies chimney...and survived? :bigeyes: Well you never know. Years ago we had Call Ducks....aw so sweet too, and we had a very boisterous Airedale doggie....the ducks ruled the roost and were Top Dog in the LP household. Dog ran away from the wee beauties :lol:



Maybe you have second thoughts eh?



Pop those there piccies in the Gallery for keeps :thumbs:

Mazza the Mother Earth Mom :notworthy: :notworthy:

[mazza]

:cry_more: :cry_more: :cry_more:

I have given the little duckling to the animal rescue centre. I honestly did have second thoughts as I was driving there, but I know it has gone to the right place and the lady told me to phone her anytime I liked to find out how the little cutie is getting on. :)

I just feel as if that little creature has really touched me in some way, it's hard to explain, but I will never forget my little fluffy mate - neither will my lads either. :cry:

I took loads of pictures and even got the video camera out...who knows, my little pal might star on you've been framed one day! :lol:

Thanks for all your support everyone :salut: .

From your NFHiB resident mother-duckling-expert!

PS, I also wondered if a heron might have dropped it, there are quite a few round here...or even an Owl. I feel sure that if the cats had dragged it in, they would have ripped it to shreds because they do that to baby rabbits which are much, much bigger than the little duckling. :o . Happily, our little friend had no evidence of a wound anywhere and was in tip top condition :) .

[er 59]

hi mazza

aww bless hope the little duck likes his/her new home it was so cute it must have been hard to let it go well done for all of your efforts youre a star :)

[marieuk]

Ma zza i am so proud of you one for taking in and caring so well for duckling and for taking it to new home today it must have been really hard well done Love Muk xxx

[Miss Understood]

Well done Mazza, hard as it was, you've done the right thing.

Will the Rescue Centre allow you access rights? I think I'd be popping up there every week to see how the little thing is getting on.

[Eeyore]

You've done the right thing Mazza :D your little baby will be well cared for and safe, but if it weren't for you he/she might not be here right now, having a chance at life

Well done you :notworthy:

[Matthew]

Nice one mazza, good on you. :) :notworthy:

[smoo22]

What a sweet story! And the pics are so-o-o-o cute.

I would have dug you a pond had you asked....... :D

Nice one Mazza!

[Eeyores mam]

What a lovely story and a lovely ending. Well done Mazza