Eggs found next to a helpless duck killed in a sickening catapult attack have hatched despite survival fears.

The hen suffered horrendous injuries while guarding her unhatched ducklings near Chart Gunpowder Mill in Faversham.

GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW

Graphic images show the poor bird’s shattered beak and a gaping wound to its body – injuries believed to have been caused by marbles fired from the weapon.

But there was a silver lining when some of the nine “stone cold” and blood-splattered eggs next to the duck’s body hatched last week.

Columbines Wildlife Care in Teynham incubated the eggs to give them a fighting chance to hatch.

Serena Henderson, who works at the not-for-profit organisation, said: “One egg had a crack in the shell so we discarded it.

“Four were not developing correctly and were in the early stages.

“Three of them hatched and are very healthy.

“One of them had curled toes so we had to correct the feet with corrective shoes.

“The humidity and temperature fluctuation caused this but he is very healthy.”

The last of the eggs hatched four days ago and they will be taken with 11 orphaned ducklings to another rescue called the Swan Sanctuary to help with their release in about two months.

When Mrs Henderson and her team at Columbines were alerted to the unhatched eggs’ they believed the survival chance was “very low” as they were “stone cold”.

They were put in an incubator as soon as possible and there was a glimmer of hope last week after a couple of them showed signs of life.

“I was pleased that four of them hatched and given such a sad situation, the duck’s hard work was not completely in vain. “

The defenceless mallard was shot multiple times and suffered a broken wing and ribs.

Further investigation found she had a very distinctive marble-shaped catapult injury on her beak.

It is believed the duck was dead for a couple of hours before she was discovered shortly after 5.30pm on Sunday, April 28.

Mrs Henderson says there are other nesting birds in the area and it is only a stone’s throw from Stonebridge Pond.

“There are lakes, estuaries and water throughout the town,” she said.

“I would not be surprised to see repeat incidents in the area.

“It seems to be on the increase, with catapults in particular.”

A police spokesperson confirmed the force was contacted on Monday about a nesting duck found dead near Noble Court, Faversham.

“The animal was believed to have been injured by somebody who had used a catapult,” they said.

“Officers from the Rural Task Force have spoken to the caller and are carrying out further enquiries into the incident.”

Anyone with further information can call police on 01795 419119 quoting reference 29-0220.