About Duckling Discovery
I have always loved animals and have had many different pets over the years, but in my forties I developed a passion for ducks when I acquired two 2-week old Mallard ducklings. Shortly after, I bought two Miniature Silver Appleyard ducklings, who were followed by five Indian runner ducks, two Khaki Campbells and a Khaki Campbell cross.
Ducks are definitely addictive and I decided to get an incubator so I could hatch some ducklings. With plenty of eggs and too many to hatch myself, I started selling fertile eggs to people who wanted to hatch their own ducklings.
At that stage I decided to offer schools, nurseries, care homes and families the opportunity to hire the equipment needed to hatch my eggs and care for the ducklings for a couple of weeks, without the cost and ongoing commitment of keeping adult ducks.
With this in mind Duckling Discovery was hatched, with the intention of creating lasting memories and enhancing education by bringing biology to life.
Your Hatching Experience...
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Equipment we provide
Our Duckling Discovery kit includes the following:
- an incubator
- up to 6 fertile duck eggs
- a heated brooder to keep the ducklings warm
- duckling food
- feed container & drinker
- an enclosure & bedding
- full instructions to hatch and care for the ducklings
Transporting the kit to you
We transport the Duckling Discovery kit to your school or home when the eggs have been incubated by us for 25 days. The incubator keeps the eggs warm during the journey using our in-car transport kit.
When will the eggs hatch?
The eggs, which will have been laid by our own small flock of ducks at home and incubated by us, should hatch within 2-4 days of arriving.
Looking after the ducklings
Within 24 hours of hatching, when the ducklings are fluffy and mobile, they will need to be transferred from the incubator to the enclosure. Here they can access food, water and keep warm under the brooder. You can now enjoy caring for the ducklings!
At the end of the 2-week period we will come and collect the kit and the ducklings, unless the school or family are able to give the ducklings a suitable, permanent home.
Pricing & FAQs
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Hire charge:
- To hire our Duckling Discovery kit (including up to 6 fertile eggs) for 2 weeks is £265
Transport costs:
- There is no charge for delivering and collecting the kit to/from addresses within a 25 mile radius of our flock in Cheshire
- Travel over and above 25 miles is charged at 50p per mile
Payment
We are a small business and ask that payment is made by bank transfer (BACS) 14 days before the hire period is due to commence. If payment hasn't been received 7 days prior to the commencement date we reserve the right to cancel the booking.
How do I hatch and look after the ducklings?
We provide full, easy-to-follow instructions when we deliver the kit. We also offer phone and email help and support when you are hatching and caring for the ducklings.
Giving the ducks a permanent home
We understand that many schools, nurseries and families are happy to experience the ducklings hatching and care for them for their first 10 days of life, just until they become bigger and need more space. This is why we offer to collect the ducklings when we return for the hatching kit two weeks later.
On the other hand, if the school or family would like to keep the ducklings and are able to give them an appropriate, permanent home they are welcome to do so at no extra cost (subject to being satisfied that they have the necessary space and equipment).
If the ducks are to be kept by the customer, we are always available to offer advice and support, including sourcing equipment and consumables if required.
What happens to the ducklings that are returned?
We care deeply about the welfare of the ducklings and will either rehome them to good homes or keep them ourselves. This is the benefit of a small, family business - we don't supply huge numbers of kits so we are able to ensure we find suitable homes for the ducklings, or they become part of our own flock!
Recommendations
If you enjoy hatching and caring for our ducklings, we welcome any recommendations to your family, friends and colleagues. We are a small business and greatly appreciate them to help make people aware of what we offer, and of the benefits to children and adults of all ages.
Please email your reviews to me at kirsty.parry@outlook.com and indicate whether you are happy for them to be published on this website.
Contact Us
Book your hatching experience now
Duckling Discovery - call Kirsty on 07879 618729
