Christmas quackers! ‘Goose’ out for a duck

What was thought to be a goose has been saved from the chop this Christmas. A white indian runner duck was found among the geese at Hostingley farm. A friend of the farm (Dawn Hinton) is going to look after the bird at her home. Dawn with 'Lucky' and Tim Lindley. (D553C350)

But this lucky ducky narrowly avoided the chop – after it was discovered he was not a goose, but a duck.

How the furtive fowl made its way into the geese stock at Hostingley Farm is a mystery to owner Lynn Lindley. The geese were a mere week away from their festive fate when husband Tim found an imposter in the flock.

Lynn said: “We were absolutely flabbergasted. We have no idea how it got there.”

Now the flightless bird – an Indian runner duck – has been given a new home, and a new name – Lucky.

“I don’t know how it didn’t get spotted before,” said Lynn. “They are white and have long necks but it was considerably smaller than a goose. It was quite clear it was a duck.”

It’s not clear how Lucky made his way to the farm in Thornhill, which produces free range geese and turkeys.

Lynn believes he may have been dumped there or perhaps made his way along the canal and through the fence to make some feathered friends.

She added: “We just didn’t have the heart to kill him. Our friend Dawn Hinton has given him a new home. She’s a real animal lover. When she saw it there was no option, she was going to take him.”

Lucky will join Dawn’s other duck, Donald, at her home in Thornhill.

The farm is also doing its good bit for Christmas by donating two turkeys for good causes. Homeless charities based in Castleford and Wakefield are getting a bird, as are two Wakefield schools.

Lynn said: ““We just want to spread the festive spirit. Christmas is about giving as well as receiving.”