[Mary B]

No question (for a change!)  Just wanted to share the excitement of 5 Aylesbury ducklings all hatched out by a broody hen.  They emerged yesterday evening. (OK, so I'm fairly new to this, and still find it really exciting ...).  They all seem to be doing really well, and proud mum is doing a good job of keeping them all warm.

They'll go and join the kayuga ducks (only 3 hatched out last time) when they're all ready, and then we'll have to work out whether we want to keep the breeds separate or whether it doesn't really matter too much to us for now and they can mingle.  I guess it'll depend on how many drakes we end up with - a problem for another day.

[jameslindsay]

That is great news Mary, well done. I have 5 Aylesbury's, they are very special ducks. They are eating machines but fearless. I hope all goes well for your brood.

[catomell]

Great News - and by the way, whether you are new to it or not, hatching is still really exciting. I have kept poultry all my life, and yet, whenever we are expecting a hatch, the heart beats a little faster and the broody / incubator is checked very regularly to see how many have arrived. Even my husband gets excited!! Today I thought I had better check on one of my broody's who is sitting on runner duck eggs which are due on saturday! I had a friend and her children with me when I checked her, and I heard the unmistakeable sound of cheeping! Lo and behold, she had hatched four out of her ten eggs already, with another three/four on the way! Excited - I nearly had a Tena Lady moment!!!!!! And as for my friend and her kids.............
Catherine.

[doganjo]

Stupid duck!!!!

Just went in to check they hadn't been nicked again and where was she?  Sitting in the other nest box on two hens eggs that had been laid after I picked up the others.      I wish they'd all lay before noon, then I could keep tabs on them.