I will not incubate them, I will not incubate them, I will not ....

I think I need to write this 300 times on the chalkboard before I can go home!

My Rouen hen is laying again after about a 3 week hiatus. I'd taken the earlier eggs away, ate them during the winter and early spring, and then hatched some of the April and early May ones in the incubator. I ended up with 5 healthy ducklings out of about 2 dozen eggs that went in the incubator. Many of them were held WAY too long, and some had dirty shells.

She is now laying again. It's SO tempting to hatch more -- I've got button quail set to hatch on the 4th (Born on the 4th of July!). Having had chicks, turkeys, and ducklings this spring, I can honestly say ducklings are by far the cutest, sweetest little birds (but also by far the messiest!).

But, I don't NEED any more ducks. REALLY.

This batch really should go to the kitchen. But, how would I explain it to the rest of the family?

Perhaps a chorus of "Mommas, don't let your babies grow up to be omlettes?"