On Feb 18th we started our science class on duck Embryology.
18 eggs went into an incubator to be turned 1, 3, or 5 times day. The importance is at least once but not an even number so ducks do not spend long nights on one side.
After a week we candled the eggs to see what ones where fertile.
4 not fertile
1 early fail to thrive
1 bacteria
12 fertile
Wanting to give them more time, we waited a few more days. The room started to stink, candled again and the bacteria one was very very clearly what we had thought, out to the trash it went, along with other ones that would not be ducks.
And so now we make sure the temp is right, turn them, make sure the humidity is good, and we wait.
The children are very excited, specially storm baby. She badly wants to see ducklings. She is very interesting in the candling and seems to understand it.
HopePixie had a hard time understanding the eggs that did not make it. It was a good time to explain our own fertility. How many human eggs do not become fertile in the time frame given to us by nature. It is thought at 50%-60% of pregnancies end in chemical miscarriage, often before the women even knows she is pregnant. The egg though fertile does not implant so it can grow. It is tragic, it is sad, and it is something that is not often talked about. I feel it is important for my daughter to know this, to be able to talk about it, feel the sadness, and know if it someday happens to her that she is not alone and that chances are it is not her personally but rather nature.
We will be happy to let you know how many Ducklings we hatch and also take pictures of the farm they will be returning to!
