Orphaned ducklings saved by couple 'doing well'
BBCA couple who rescued a clutch of unhatched duck eggs after their mother died now have 10 rapidly-growing ducklings living in their garden.
James Carter and his girlfriend Stephanie Weeding began incubating the eggs at home in April using heat lamps.
The orphaned ducklings - which would not have survived more than a few hours without their help - started hatching after a week and are now thriving at Mr Carter's home in Redcar, Teesside.
The 35-year-old chef said "more had survived than if they'd been in the wild", adding he was "chuffed" the birds were doing so well.
He said: "Five weeks ago, we wouldn't have said we're going to have 10 little ducklings running around in the garden.
"But they're doing well and causing havoc, it's all good."
The mother duck had become something of an unofficial mascot at the cafe where Mr Carter works in Great Ayton, near Middlesbrough.
But staff were left "heartbroken" when she died during the Easter bank holiday, and the timing of her death made it difficult for anyone to contact the RSPCA and other local charities for assistance.
Because the couple collect tropical butterflies they had heat lamps at home, which they used to incubate the eggs.
The ducklings have since been learning to swim in a makeshift backyard pond and Ms Weeding said they particularly enjoyed eating dandelions and "can't get enough of peas".
The couple added their next step was to introduce the birds to living alfresco permanently, as they are currently only outside during the day.
Ms Weeding said: "In the next week they'll be moving into a coup and once they're sprouting adult feathers we'll be released them back into the wild."
