Young cat and ducks

[comfortandjoy]

Hi . I haven't had a cat for 30 years and 3.5 weeks ago we adopted a 1 year old male .He's v affectionate and fun.

We've been advised to keep him in for 3 - 4 weeks so today I took him a walk around outside . We live in a protected natural forest which attracts lots of native birds so I put a collar on him with 2 bells to get him used to wearing it. I tied a long ribbon to it and he went around sniffing things. Since we brought him back in he's crying loudly at the windows and wants to get back out there. So I took him out again.
This time there was a mother duck with her duckling next to our pond. The cat locked eyes on them and started to creep towards them and kept getting into pouncing position. The ducks waddled off and I took the cat in.
Now I'm behind a closed door in the office as he 's meowing so much. My neighbour's cats just sit there as the ducks walk past. My cat is really playful and miaows all the time for us to play with him so will pounce on anything that moves.
What should I do ? Is it cruel to have given him a taste of freedom? I don't like to hear him so upset . Should I wait till the ducking is older before letting out the cat ? I really don't want it to kill the ducking and that's what's going to happen. ( The duck started with 7 or 8 babies and this is her surviving one) .
I know people in other countries have indoor cats but this was an outdoor cat in its previous home.

Just wait. Your cat will be fine if a bit miffed to be indoors for a while. The duckling will be dead if you let him out.

I could keep him in longer but should I still let him out ' on lead' or keep him in completely . Which is less cruel?

Mine enjoy a leash walk but the more I do it the more I have to watch them at the door. I think the more they go out the more they want to.

Did you tie a ribbon to the collar to use as a lead or to flap about and warn wild life?
Either way, please don't. A cat should wear a harness for walking on a lead as this is secure ( they can wriggle out of a collar) and distributes the pressure so if they pull or struggle, you don't strangle them.
A long ribbon just dragging along or flapping in the wind, can also get caught on things, including the cat and end up throttling them!
A cat is probably not going to attach a full grown duck, but a duckling will be more vulnerable.
Depending how good a hunter your cat is, he could also catch birds and other wildlife. Do you have anything particularly endangered in the area like red squirrels or dormice? I'd have to keep my cat in a Hannibal Lecter mask if there was anything rate or vulnerable in my area I think!

I’ve got 2 indoor cats for that reason needs . They’ve adjusted really well, but they shouldn’t be allowed to hunt native species.