Duckling problem

staffitaxi

staffitaxi

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Andrea
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Hi All

Anyone any advice on the following:

A duck laid her eggs in a planter outside our office, the eggs have now hatched she is going crazy around the planter but the ducklings don't seem to be able to get out?

Do we leave them or give them a hand, I'm inclined to say leave and see how they get on. It doesn't seem too deep but haven't got that close to check properly.

Ta for any replies.

Andrea
x
 
Leave them, Andrea.
 
Can we have an update in an hour as to how they are doing?

ps: worth a read: Ducklings
 
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Ducks can be incredibly stupid with their choice of nest site. If they really can't get out then there's a risk she may abandon them. There should be no issue with either adding something to the planter to allow them to leave easily, or helping them out. But keep any contact to the absolute minimum.
 
Agreed add something to the planter but don't touch the ducklings.
 
Leave them, a good friend of my dad's owns a nursing home that is very close to the river and every year for the last 10 years or so one handing basket has been turned into a nest by a duck and the duckling always manage to get out of it so they should have no issue getting out of a planter :D if you do get concerned you can always contact the RSPB
 
Some people from HR have put a cardboard ramp in.

Thanks for the link Keith.

I'll try and keep you updated, its not outside my office window its in next door but they are keeping an eye on things.

Ta

Andrea
 
There are a pair of mallards nest in some ivy next to a peregrine nest, the ivy must be 100 feet up a cliff face.The ducklings jump out when they are ready and kinda glide to earth,amazing to watch.Fox proof nesting from the parents...............
:lol:


I`d just leave them be, they will sort it out.
 
Big worry is not frightening the mother into abandoning the brood by being too "helpful"
 
Very doubtful, its probably very unsafe LOL

4 out, either 1 or 2 to go. They didn't use the ramp, not surprisingly.

Very cute though.

I did suggest they didn't bother with the ramp in the first place, my gut instinct was they are fairly good at getting out of tight spots.

They have a much more dangerous journey ahead of them. One campus road to cross and then the hill down to the pond, will expect her to lose a couple to crows or magpies on the way down as that is what usually happens, nature can seem cruel at times. If it was a bird of prey it wouldn't bother me so much, really bugs me that it will be crows and magpies.

Andrea
 
staffitaxi said:
Some people from HR have put a cardboard ramp in.
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Wow - HR in doing something useful shocker! ;)

While the general advice is to leave any young alone is good, sometimes you have to intervene. This instance, with the ducklings facing the seemingly impossible task of scaling a steep surface with little to no purchase, is one of them.
 
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staffitaxi said:
They have a much more dangerous journey ahead of them. One campus road to cross and then the hill down to the pond, will expect her to lose a couple to crows or magpies on the way down as that is what usually happens, nature can seem cruel at times. If it was a bird of prey it wouldn't bother me so much, really bugs me that it will be crows and magpies.

Andrea
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Get HR to escort them whilst they are in a 'useful' mode :D
 
How many meetings and how much paperwork was involved before HR did anything? :)
 
crocodile said:
While the general advice is to leave any young alone is good, sometimes you have to intervene. This instance, with the ducklings facing the seemingly impossible task of scaling a steep surface with little to no purchase, is one of them.
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Evidently not impossible as they are getting out without using the ramp.

So the general advice is good.

If they were in danger of being run over on the road though I would have no problem trying to get traffic to stop to let them cross ok.

Compared to some ducklings first journeys across motorways etc,this lot dont have to bad a run of it by the sounds.
 
staffitaxi said:
Poor HR :lol:
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Don't feel too sorry for them!! They've implemented a pot egress solution without proper research and it has not been utilised by the intended users. Whilst they might have a warm glow of satisfaction they have, in fact, wasted company resources and manpower.

Time to whistleblow ;)
 
Yes, but all in a good cause, who can resist fluffy ducklings :-)

I've heard they crossed the road without any problems, not sure on the aerial assault though.

Our ducks are generally well cared for, students are always going down to feed them.
 
If the ducks are Mallards they are likely to have an excellent mother.
 
Definitely leave them. Ducklings can jump and survive amazing drops, and they do make thier nests in the daftest places.
 
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