Appleyard ducklings have hatched!!

Our 4 mama ducks gave us 35 eggs over 10 days and we saved 28 to incubate. By day 28 of incubation, we had 20 little ducklings hatch and ready to join our backyard farm (or be sold...most will be sold). 

They are adorable and full of life!! They are only 2 days old and already enjoying the fresh air. We put up a little spot for them with a tray of water...which they are loving!!

Incubating duck eggs 28 days, then little ducklings hatch

I absolutely adore this time of year! Our little homestead is full of life!! Baby goats, baby chicks and now baby ducks! We started incubating 28 duck eggs a month ago and we get to enjoy these little feathery friends in our backyard!

Here is a video of our incubation process.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spo2km7LuuM&list=HL1368483081&feature=mh_lolz

Our First Swarm has arrived!

Poppy had her Babies!!! Quadruplets!!

Our first set of kids are here!! Poppy did not top her record from last year of having 5 babies, but we are absolutely thrilled with the adorable 4 she gave us this year! 3 of these precious babies are little doelings and one is a little buckling. I had stayed home from church since our little George was sick. George and I spent all day outside with Poppy and about 3 minutes before she was ready to start pushing, Bryan, Henry, and Addie got home! Bryan had enough time to change out of his dress pants and shirt, but didn't even have a chance to get off his dress socks ;) Needless to say, Addies church dress needed to be washed!!

We have had requests for a video of the birth...so here it is! Warning: Not for those who dont wanting to see a little TMI!! Especially as she progresses into the birth of baby #2, she decided to move RIGHT beside the camera. My sister was hilarious as she watched this video..."Oooooooooooh, oooooooooh, AAAAA..." 

Poppy is very loud while birthing. So loud that the neighbors all heard and ended up comin on over with all the kids and grandkids to see the event!  

"Quack Quack" for Appleyard Ducks!!!

I could not be more excited!!! I have been wanting ducks for years!! These fine feathered friends joined our backyard homestead this week and are already bringing beautiful duck eggs into my kitchen :) I have been searching for good pure bred backyard duck and have settled on the Appleyards. They are a fabulous multipurpose breed (eggs and meat) and absolutely beautiful. We purchased these 4 hens and 1 drake from a local farmer who was selling off her flock. Yes, we have a drake....so hopefully we will be hatching some little ducklings in our incubator soon!!!!!

Meet the little crew!!!

Baby Chick Hatching in Genesis Hova Bator Incubator

Day old baby chicks hatched January 1st Happy New Year

We tried our hand at hatching eggs and it was delightful!! We didn't have the best hatch rate due to not checking the incubator temperature and humidity with an extra thermometer. But we did get 5 adorable baby chicks out of the adventure!!

I put the chicks in a cardboard box which we cut out a window opening for the kids to observe the cute balls of fluff! We trained the baby chicks not to jump out of the little opening... lol, just kidding! We covered the opening with plexiglass which we just duck taped on the reverse side. It was absolutely perfect for the kids to watch the chicks without being able to reach their hands in a touch them...constantly! I also taped a thermometer to the window so we could keep track of the temperature. This was one job that Henry (my oldest, 6 years old) was in charge of! He was responsible to make sure the temperature was at a certain point each week. He did a great job and it was very easy way to introduce temperature tracking into our homeschool discussion.