Sally’s Duck Rescue in Marshland St James cares for hundreds of disabled and elderly birds
Wheelchairs, palliative care and a “forever home” are just some of the benefits for the hundreds of ducks at a West Norfolk couple’s sanctuary.
Tucked away in Marshland St James is Sally’s Duck Rescue, which has become a home and shelter for hundreds of ducks and other waterfowl of all shapes and sizes.
The charitable sanctuary was started by husband and wife Tim and Sally Jones from their Surrey home nearly five years ago, when they were first asked to care for seven male runner ducks which had poorly feet. They then managed to rehome them once they had recovered.
This is where it all began for the couple. Once people knew they were able to take in a duck or two, they were being asked to take care of more and more - and before they knew it they had outgrown their premises.
When they lived in Surrey, they were looking after 70 ducks from their back garden.
By the time Christmas 2022 came around in Marshland St James, the pair had 500 ducks in their care - and still have 450.
“It was one of those things that just sort of happened, and when it did we thought we might need some more space. It has been a whirlwind,” Sally says.
“We could not really do that where we were, so we basically sold up everything and left it all behind and moved to Norfolk.”
She and Tim now have a large space that covers more than four acres, which means they are able to accommodate a much larger number of ducks.
TWO SIDES TO THE RESCUE
At Sally’s Duck Rescue, there are two sides to the couple’s work - both rehoming and providing a sanctuary.
The couple takes in able-body ducks for rehoming, but are very particular about making sure they go to the right homes. They focus on making sure they have matched the duck with the right family wanting to adopt.
Sally and Tim believe all ducks have “the right to life”, and so a vital part of their work provides disabled, less able, or elderly ducks with a “forever home” as part of their sanctuary.
Their aim is to give them a free and happy life while they are with them and provide them with the respite, palliative care, or medication they need to keep them well while they live out the rest of their days.
They have a very large flock of disabled and elderly quackers which live with them for their entire lives.
They include Teddy, who only has a quarter of his beak, and Onni, who uses a wheelchair as he has a neurological disorder.
There are birds in their disabled flock which vets may perhaps have recommended putting to sleep because they did not think there was any opportunity for a quality life.
What they have been able to do is provide these animals with a real home.
MEET ONNI
Onni has come into the care of Sally and Tim as he has a neurological problem which means he cannot walk or balance.
The couple has improved his life and given him freedom again by constructing him a wheelchair.
“Onni is one of the happiest ducks you will ever meet,” Sally says.
“We wags his tail all of the time, chats to you, and does everything he is supposed to as a duck - he just needs a wheelchair to do it in.
“For anyone else, if you would have taken him to the vet and said, ‘He can't walk, he can't balance’, the vet would have put him to sleep.
“I always say to people, ‘If it was a human being, what would you say?
“You wouldn't say, ‘That's okay, put them to sleep’. You would make adaptations and work on how to help them live a full but a different life.”
To be able to help these ducks and other animals means “everything” to Sally and Tim.
‘IT IS NOT A CHEAP THING TO DO’
The Marshland St James rescue does not receive any money to keep it running, and relies solely on the self-funding Tim and Sally put into it to make it happen.
“It is not a cheap thing to do - people always assume we get money for it but we don't get any funding at all,” Sally says.
“The only money we ever get coming in is when people do some sponsorship.”
The couple offer sponsorship opportunities on their website, where people can pay on a monthly basis to receive a newsletter on their ducks.
Additionally, they sometimes run fundraisers - with one currently bidding to gather cash for a new vehicle within the rescue.
The one they use to move food, tools and ducks around is broken.
Without it, it is going to be difficult for Sally and Tim this winter - so the fundraiser is to raise money for a new second-hand one.
The amount they need to raise is £5,000 - and they have so far gathered more than £1,400.
To donate, go to: www.gofundme.com/f/urgent-appeal-sallys-duck-rescue-ATV
The duck rescue is always in need of volunteers, and people can get involved in a range of things - from cleaning and bathing the disabled ducks and fundraising to fixing houses, and much more.
As someone has to be on-site all of the time to keep an eye on the animals, Sally and Tim are unable to take a day off at the moment.
‘I WOULD NOT CHANGE IT FOR ANYTHING’
The rescue is mainly focused on the 450 ducks at the property, but is also helping 100 chickens, two goats called Dick and Dom, and a few more animals as well.
Sally says there is always an assumption that ducks are just livestock and that they do not have any personality.
“If you were to spend any time here at the rescue, you will see they are all absolutely unique,” she adds.
“They all have their own personalities and traits in the same way that people would say a dog or a cat does.
“Ducks do as well - they are incredible animals and they have that emotional intelligence that I don't think people realise. They are such a pleasure to be around.”
Tim says: “From a hobby, we have now become probably the biggest domestic duck rescue in the UK.
“What we started as a hobby from our back garden down in London has grown into this, and we never thought in a million years it would be this big.
“I absolutely love it - I would not change it for anything.”
