63° yesterday and the snow is mostly off the garden, so I figured it was high time to start my seed pots. When I went to put them under the grow lights, I heard little peeps emanating from the incubator.

The first four ducklings make an appearance!

We started with 29 eggs, but discarded the ones that did not show growth after a week.

This is what a viable egg looks like. The blood flow is like a placenta, and allows the growing embryo to access oxygen through the egg shell.

We were expecting the eggs to start to hatch tomorrow (28 days by Michael’s calculation), which is why I was more than a little surprised by hearing the peeps today. Several of the ducklings made the initial hole in the shell, but then seemed to stall out. Michael (who was out running errands) said it was okay to help them, so I did.

I was so afraid of harming them by breaking the shell.

While the babies were busy busting out, I frantically gathered all the baby gear together: a big plastic tote, waterers and feeders, vitamins to add to their water, bedding, heat lamps, string, nails (to hang the lamps) and a thermometer (they seem to like it at 110°). Then I made sure everything was clean. Michael and Persephone arrived as I was hauling the last bit inside. Nice to have some help!

The next 6 duckies didn’t fluff up, but had the goo from birthing stick to them. Persephone looked up what to do about this on line. We gave the later-hatched duckies a warm bath, which seemed to help immensely. Michael noticed the humidity level had dropped by half (lifting the lid repeatedly will do that) and so he added water. The next duck to hatch wasn’t sticky!

Food. Water. Warmth. They are doing well.

It will be interesting to see who these ducklings are, as we have a number of different types of hens (Khaki Campbells, Pekins, Rouens, and Runners) and only one virile drake, who is a Runner. Some of the duckies have very large feet, and others are very teensy.

I am so amazed that we have hatched eggs from our own ducks. Michael figures that the incubator has paid for itself with this first hatching. Even if this isn’t so, it has been worth the trip. Happy springtime everyone!

This one is still my favorite duckie.