Swarland couple adopt duckling after its mother dies

May 11 2009 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

The duckling has also made its mark on the couple’s African grey talking parrot Molly, which can be heard to squawk “Daffy.”

And it also intrigues their King Charles Spaniel Razor, who sniffs at its new vanmate.

Still unsure of its gender due to it not having developed adult feathers, they christened it Orville but have since changed its name to Daffy. The duckling, which weighed 1.75oz when the Kellys first took it in, sleeps in a box inside their van.

They give it water and feed it chick crumbs, crickets and meal worm.

Madeline even takes the duckling out for walks so it can learn to feed itself.

It waddles faithfully behind like a pet dog, running ahead when it sees the pond where it hatched.

Daffy swims either in that pond, or in the couple’s bath.

Bizarrely, the infant appears scared of other ducks, fleeing whenever they approach.

But it is comfortable around people, allowing the Kellys to pick it up and happy to sit or even sleep on one’s shoulder, although that does not stop it giving them the occasional peck.

Paul said: “People have stopped us in the park and said this is unbelievable what is happening.

“He has taken to home life quite well!”

The couple plan to release the duck when it is old enough to fend for itself, at the QE2 Park in Ashington.