13 new pets. I must be quackers!

[TitanTim]

Sadly unless they find water and cover soon the local neighbourhood cats and foxes will have them

Tim.

[IRD]

I also can't face the thought of letting them find their own way to the river, as they have to pass at least two Chinese takeaways.

Oh and five Polish food shops; but they aren't a concern, as they are too busy selling stolen Carp and Pike from the said river.

They are beautiful Andy and your garden is probably the safest place for them at the moment. We have a child’s plastic paddling pool if you want to borrow it.

[Pondrew]

Sadly unless they find water and cover soon the local neighbourhood cats and foxes will have them

Tim.

Never seen a fox here and there are only a couple of cats but they don't come near as we have a dog.
Not saying it can't happen but the mother has obviously been sitting on her nest for weeks with no ill effects.

I now feel responsible for their welfare, so need to find out the best thing to do with them. They obviously can't stay here for long.

[Pondrew]

They are beautiful Andy and your garden is probably the safest place for them at the moment. We have a child’s plastic paddling pool if you want to borrow it.

Thanks Ian.
I made an impromptu 'pond' for them from a big shallow plant tray. It's about 3" deep but the mother just sat in it and the ducklings can't get up the sides! They struggled to get up the 2" step onto the patio earlier.

I have now put some timber 'steps' up to the new pond so they could get in but don't think they could get out! I don't want to drown the poor little buggers.

[TitanTim]

Sadly unless they find water and cover soon the local neighbourhood cats and foxes will have them

Tim.

Never seen a fox here and there are only a couple of cats but they don't come near as we have a dog.
Not saying it can't happen but the mother has obviously been sitting on her nest for weeks with no ill effects.

I now feel responsible for their welfare, so need to find out the best thing to do with them. They obviously can't stay here for long.

Hopefully they will be ok if she can find a place with some cover. Were plagued by foxes at the moment they come every night, probably as next door has Guinea Pigs plus a couple of badgers

We had some ducklings at work some years ago and thought it best to move them to a nearby river but was advised to leave them as all it will do is stress them and the mother should know what to do. Unfortunately as the days passed we counted less and less of the ducklings until the mother finally led the remaining ones back to the river.

Tim.

[IRD]

They are beautiful Andy and your garden is probably the safest place for them at the moment. We have a child’s plastic paddling pool if you want to borrow it.

Thanks Ian.
I made an impromptu 'pond' for them from a big shallow plant tray. It's about 3" deep but the mother just sat in it and the ducklings can't get up the sides! They struggled to get up the 2" step onto the patio earlier.

I have now put some timber 'steps' up to the new pond so they could get in but don't think they could get out! I don't want to drown the poor little buggers.

I think you are just using this as an excuse for not getting on with that car.

[Mr Tidy]

I made an impromptu 'pond' for them from a big shallow plant tray. It's about 3" deep but the mother just sat in it and the ducklings can't get up the sides! They struggled to get up the 2" step onto the patio earlier.

I have now put some timber 'steps' up to the new pond so they could get in but don't think they could get out! I don't want to drown the poor little buggers.

The mother probably came to you knowing that you were Pondrew!

[Pondrew]

I think you are just using this as an excuse for not getting on with that car.

The irony is that her nest is about 5 feet from where the body is sat. So I haven't been able to do anything to it today.

[MikeyH]

You know you where moaning about your lawn the other day, I think god has given you a sign. Get digging We have called the RSPCA a few times for injured birds and hedgehogs, they take them away. Get a big box, put the duckings in it wrap the duck in a large towel so it can’t flap and get hurt. Take them all to the river. I get the wife to handle stray birds it’s safer that way

[MikeyH]

You could gently spray them with water, they might like it.

[dr_john]

We have the River Soar at the bottom of our garden, duck families usually make camp there and swim off eventually.

A couple of years ago we found a brood in the middle of the village, we put the ducklings in a cardboard box and took them down to the river, followed all the way by the anxious mother duck. Released them all into the water, the mother duck gave us a look of severe disapproval.

Gratitude or what?

[enuff_zed]

They are beautiful Andy and your garden is probably the safest place for them at the moment. We have a child’s plastic paddling pool if you want to borrow it.

Thanks Ian.
I made an impromptu 'pond' for them from a big shallow plant tray. It's about 3" deep but the mother just sat in it and the ducklings can't get up the sides! They struggled to get up the 2" step onto the patio earlier.

I have now put some timber 'steps' up to the new pond so they could get in but don't think they could get out! I don't want to drown the poor little buggers.

I think you’ll find they float

[Pondrew]

Mother and all twelve doing well this morning. Wandering around the garden without a care in the world.

Just got to watch for Sparrowhawks. We have a few around here. I have seen those take a full sized pigeon!

The dog went outside, took one look at them and came running back into the house!

[Pondrew]

Well I spoke too soon!
Mother duck decided it was time to leave, so managed to get the ducklings out of the garden by flying over one of the gates and calling them. They are small enough to get under.

She made her way down to the bottom of the cul-de sac and was sat there.
I went down to check and only counted 9 chicks (not 12)! I looked everywhere for the other 3 until I realised they had fallen down an open drain in the road!

With the help of a crowbar and a neighbour (to keep the mother away), I managed to pluck the three from the drain. I have put a board over the drain for now!
So all 12 back with mum but she has gone the wrong way and can't get out of the cul de sac!

[BMWZ4MC]

The irony is that her nest is about 5 feet from where the body is sat. So I haven't been able to do anything to it today.

Not even give it a decent burial…best leave it wrapped in the tarp for now!