Fulkerson Farms

• Monday, May 28, 2007 - Birth of a Hobby Farm...

It all started one April  day when my husband found a mallard nest near our pond. Eight perfectly formed eggs, waiting to hatch, while their parents enjoyed an early morning  swim. The next day, we were horrified to discover the count had dwindled to five. Turtles, possums--anything could be the egg-stealing culprit. The missing eggs prompted a trip to the local Co-Op, where we purchased an incubator. I'm sure many of you have incubated game bird eggs before, but for those who haven't, it's not hard. I browsed the Internet, learning all I could about Mallards, incubators, setting up a brooder, etc. We set the thermostat, put water in the incubator's trough, and marked the date on the eggs with a Sharpie. We faithfully turned them 2-3 times daily. Within a few weeks, we could hear their little chirps, still inside the eggs. The next two days were filled with excitement as we spotted the first check marks. We'd been warned to stop turning the eggs just before hatching. Just as expectant parents decorate a nursery, we set up the brooder--a large Rubbermaid tub filled with pine shavings and a trouble light clamped to the side. We also learned through experience that poultry waterers are better than placing a bowl of water in the brooder. I'm such a city girl, I had no idea that ducklings can drown when they get so excited that everyone dives into the water bowl. :( When the ducklings finally finished pecking through their eggs, the spoiling process began! We made a mush with chick starter mixed with water and hand-fed the little darlings for several days. My husband built a special fully enclosed pen outside, as ducks grow quickly. Soon, they were romping in a fenced dog run by day and snoozing in their safety pen at night. We marveled as they gradually feathered out, learned to quack, and, eventually, tried out their new wings. All was well until the day they flew away. But by that time, it was too late. I'd been bitten by the duck bug!

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