Deadbeat Duck Leaves Brood to Labrador

For the third time in five years, Fred the labrador has adopted an orphaned brood of ducklings. Fred is the 15-year-old resident dog at Mountfitchet Castle, a living history museum in Essex, England.

Shortly after bringing 15 (!) ducklings into the world, the mother duck, a Muscovy named Mary, hightailed it, leaving the brood orphaned on the castle grounds. Similar deadbeat-mom events occurred in 2018 and 2019, when seven and nine babies, respectively, were abandoned, and both times Fred stepped up to be surrogate dad.

Or surrogate mom, it’s hard to tell with interspecies adoptions. Fred cuddles with his new charges, protects them, and gives occasional doggy-back rides. The nontraditional family is right at home on the 10-acre castle grounds, where chickens, turkeys, deer, peacocks, and goats freely roam.

“Fred's a bit more rickety than when he looked after the ducklings last time but he's still got a very nurturing nature and it is wonderful to see,” Fred's owner, Jeremy Goldsmith, told the BBC. “I think Fred's benefitting from having a role in life and he loves being part of the family here at the castle.”

The museum staff is holding out hope that mother Mary will return soon but if she doesn’t, they know the ducklings are in experienced hands. 

Photo credit: Mountfitchet Castle