Baby ducklings have lost their mother

These ducklings are very young, they’re tiny and there are five of them.   They were found in a corner of a factory yard and brought in earlier today.   There mother was nowhere to be seen and although they were left for several hours and watched closely, she did not reappear.   When cats began stalking them (and sadly had two) the man who found them scooped them up to safety and brought them in.  Going back to their mum is the best solution though.   They are mallards and will be returned to the wild if we can rear them.

At this age they are traumatised and need to brood under them mum.  A hen makes a good substitute parent but although we’ve had some hens brought in recently, none of them are broody and it’s only when hens are in this maternal frame of mind that they will foster someone’s else’s chicks.   We’ll just have to do our best.