Left my chicken run door open yesterday and caught some squatters...

I just had a very bizarre Sunday. I leave my run door open for my girls whenever I'm home and check on them throughout the day. Yesterday afternoon, while doing the rounds, I spotted one of these little babies running around inside the run cheeping her little head off. Absolute flabbergasted, I did a sweep of the yard and found another one huddled in a deep corner on the fence line.

We live in a standard fenced-in suburban neighborhood with no real water sources nearby, so I'm very confused as to how they happened to end up in my yard that coincidentally has all the facilities to care for chicks. I'm guessing mama duck had a nest in my neighbor's yard, tried to march her new brood to water, and these two somehow got under the fence. The loud one must've heard my chickens and ran to the coop for safety.

I drove around the neighborhood looking for mama, but to no avail. Once it started getting dark I brought them inside to the brooder and got them set up for the night.

I immediately started imagining the movie-like scenario of raising them and eventually releasing them to a nearby pond where I could visit them for years to come, but unfortunately I understand that the best thing I could do for them in reality is to turn them over to a wildlife rehab to ensure they have the best chance in the wild.

I've contacted a local facility and plan to turn them over today. I'm told they're going to be raised by their resident duck mother, Ingrid, along with her adopted flock.

Just wanted to share with some folks that might appreciate it! I know every time I see some Mallards I'll imagine it's them. And who knows. Maybe it will be.