Lucky duck: A groundsman was shocked to discover this duck nesting in a furnace - moments before he was due to light it For Missy the Muscovy duck, this dry and warm shelter would have appeared like the perfect place to create a nest for her eggs.
But the bird was dangerously close to becoming a roast duck after unwittingly setting up home in a large furnace.
Groundsman Mario Kopitski, 46, was shocked to discover the duck and twelve eggs nesting in the replica 5ft Norman smelting oven moments before he was about to light it.
He was on his daily round of lighting three smelting ovens in the in the nine acre grounds of Mountfitchet Castle in Stansted, Essex, when he discovered the white duck and its eggs.
The 25-year-old replica oven is used for cooking bread and reaches temperatures of up to 200C.
Mr Kopitski said despite a variety of animals residing at the farm, including 25 other Muscovy ducks, peacocks and deer, none had ever made their nest in such an unusual place.
'I'm so relieved I checked the oven when I did - otherwise poor Misty would have been toast,' he said.
'It was a real shock to see her sat there and I'm so pleased her and the eggs are safe.'
Home sweet home: The duck has now been allowed to remain in the furnace until her eggs hatchAlan Goldsmith, who has been curator of the 200AD castle for thirty years, said the duck was incredibly lucky to be alive.
'It's awful to think that in a few seconds poor Missy could have been roast duck,' he said.
'We've decided to leave her there in peace until the eggs hatch in 28 days time and then her ducklings will join her around the grounds.
'I just can't get over what a close call she had, it's been a complete surprise to all of us here.'
source: dailymail
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