We had a Family Learning Visit today so it was rather lovely to be able to show the family concerned (mum, dad and a 2-year old), newly hatched goslings (another female and three males today) AND newly hatched ducklings. The ducklings were a bit of a surprise as they weren’t due till the weekend!! We have spied three so far but expect more as the nest has 15 eggs!! The goslings are great. Rather amazingly, yesterday we spotted Mile High having a break from her four eggs even though at that time one had externally pipped!! This is the equivalent to us lifting the lid of the incubator… but as three of the new ones today are hers, her food and drink break obviously made no difference whatsoever.
Incubating is crazy – so many protocols and dos and don’ts – and yet mother nature seems to break the rules with no ill effects at all!!!