{Ducklings}

Last September, we welcomed three ducklings to our homestead. Once they reached maturity and we could distinguish their gender, we actually had two drakes (boys) and one hen (girl). So we sold one of the drakes on Craigslist. We were left with a pair (Goliath and Charlotte) and Charlotte started laying eggs. The eggs are oh so tasty! But, we decided to let our hen give mothering a try and so we started leaving the eggs when she laid them. We were hoping maternity would suit her and she might raise a little family. After she laid 16! eggs she finally started sitting on them. Then we waited. And waited.
Then Thursday morning I saw our little mama shuffling around in her nest. I ran out to see what was going on and saw the first two little ducklings peek out at me. For three whole hours I sat and watched the rest of the flock hatch from the eggs. The mama would help them out of the shell and she and the drake would eat the shells.

The next day they went out for their first stroll together as a family and there were 15 ducklings!

 

 Over the course of the weekend we found four of the ducklings dead, 

but there are still 11 happy and healthy ducklings 

 that follow their mama all around the homestead.