This office is no longer taking bookings for 2018
Timetables for 2019 will open on September the 1st 2018, so please do come back then to book in!
Tel: 07502596622
Email: southeast@incredibleeggs.co.uk
This office is no longer taking bookings for 2018
Timetables for 2019 will open on September the 1st 2018, so please do come back then to book in!
Tel: 07502596622
Email: southeast@incredibleeggs.co.uk
This office is no longer taking bookings for 2018
Timetables for 2019 will open on September the 1st 2018, so please do come back then to book in!
Tel: 07502596622
Email: southeast@incredibleeggs.co.uk
Our Blog - Behind the Scenes at Incredible Eggs
June 2019 - Hanging out with the 'teenagers'
Some pics of our 'teenagers' out and about. These are Pekins and although they were yellow when they hatched, they have now completely changed colour. They are still very fluffy and it will be a while until their mature feathers have grown. They spend their days exploring, eating, drinking, swimming, sunbathing, chatting noisily to each other and waddling about chasing insects!
These birds were all hatched in schools, nurseries and care homes earlier this year.
May 2019 - More ducklings...and chicks too!
These birds are almost ready to leave the cosy stable where they have lived for the last few weeks and venture into the great outdoors - by that we mean the paddock!
We'll take some more pics later in the year so you can see how they've grown.
The ducklings are Pekins (on the 'Watchlist' with the Rare Breed Survival Trust) and the chicks are a mix of Light Sussex and Rhode Island Reds.
May 2019 - Ducks, ducks everywhere!
See how they've grown! Here are some of the ducks hatched in schools, nurseries and care homes earlier this year. They have been growing up in the orchards at our branch farm in Yorkshire before they go to live with domestic poultry enthusiasts and smallholders.
There are 4 different pure breeds shown in these photos - Pekins, Runners, Magpies and Cayugas.
Pekins, Magpies and Cayugas are also rare breeds, which are now so low in numbers that they are listed on the 'Watchlist' with the Rare Breed Survival Trust. They are just a few of the rare breeds which we (and you!) help conserve at Incredible Eggs.
You can find out more about these breeds and their fascinating histories here.
May 2019 - Private Bookings
As well as working in schools, nurseries and care homes, Incredible Eggs also works in private domestic settings. Here are some photographs sent in from some happy customers, with some kind words from Mum, Gemma:
"We recently had a duckling hatching kit at home for our 2 preschool children. The experience for them was incredible. They learnt so much, as did I. They learnt everything from the hatching process, why they're kept in an incubator, the egg tooth, cleaning them out and feeding. My children's faces when they hatched were totally amazed. They haven't stopped talking about them since. It's a fantastic learning experience for all ages. Highly recommend. 5* service. Thank you."
Our thanks to Gemma for permission to share.
May 2019 - Is it summer yet?
It certainly feels like it here in Kent at our South East branch!
A few 'teenage' ducks enjoying the beautiful weather down on the farm.
May 2019 - The fabulous ducks of Apple Tree Nursery
Apple Tree Nursery in Essex kept the ducks they hatched last year and created a fully enclosed run for them to live in on site. They also have a large grass enclosure, where they spend time interacting with the nursery children and staff. Here they are a year on, looking gorgeous! The girls are laying well and their eggs are given to parents to take home.
Our thanks to the staff at Apple Tree for permission to publish these photographs.
May 2019 - They're growing up - and fast!
Here are some of our school/nursery/care home ducklings back at the farm. The ducklings in this pen are now a few weeks old and have done a LOT of growing since they first hatched.
Ducklings can cope with much cooler temperatures than chicks. They have more fat on their bodies and dense fluff, which helps to keep them warm. This is because they are waterbirds and have to be able to cope with swimming in cold water as quickly as the day after they have hatched!
May 2019 - Our first grey partridge eggs arrive!
There was much eggcitement at our London and East branch today, when our first grey partridge eggs arrived! These beautiful little eggs really are tiny - we've photographed one next to some coins to give you an idea of scale.
They will soon be going out to schools across London and the Eastern region of the country, where they will hatch. The chicks will then return to our branch farm where they will be grown on until it is time to release them into the wild in the autumn.
Click here to find out more about this amazing wildlife conservation project
May 2019 - Proud new mum...
One of our Lavender Pekins with 'her' new brood!
This lavender Pekin failed to hatch out the eggs she'd been sitting on - we're not quite sure why they didn't hatch, but it was sad to see her still trying and waiting day after day.
So we were a bit sneaky...
We waited until dark and swapped the infertile eggs with some lavender Pekin chicks which had been hatched in one of our schools.
Morning came and Mummy Pekin was delighted to wake up to lots of new babies...and she has totally accepted them as her own!
Clever Mother Nature!
April 2019 - Easter Greetings from London & East!
Young ducks like these need protecting during the day, as well as at night. Common daytime predators include crows, rooks and buzzards. Ducklings this age would usually be in the stables with heat lamps, but the weather here in Norfolk is SO hot, they're having an outdoor day of sunbathing in fully enclosed grass runs - complete with swimming pools of course!
Happy Easter to all from Incredible Eggs and long may this glorious weather continue.
April 2019 - Out and about in London
This photo really made our day. Paul (one of our totally brilliant team at London and East), with the splendidly dressed George (a retired British soldier now living with The Chelsea Pensioners)...and one of the ducklings they hatched of course!
Just one of the many amazing organisations we are privileged to work with.
Our thanks to George and TCP for their permission to share this wonderful pic.
March 2019 - Making new friends back on the farm!
Just in case you're missing your ducklings, we thought you'd like to see some of them charging around back at the farm before they're put to bed for the night. We'd like to give a special mention to St. Mary's CEP and let them know their 6 babies are doing great! Thank you so much for looking after them so well, from all at Incredible Eggs South East.
March 2019 - Portraits from a smallholding
The selected smallholders we work with at our London and East branch often keep a range of different animals. Here are some photographs from one such smallholding, dedicated to preserving the biodiversity of heritage breeds of all descriptions using small-scale, high-welfare, traditional farming methods. Too nice not to share!
March 2019 - Our first ducklings come back from school!
Our first babies of the year have returned to our London and East branch! Here are some of them with Branch Manager Jane. They've obviously had lots of love and attention as they are super-friendly!
March 2019 - Greetings from our South East Branch!
Some of our birds and some rather dramatic spring skies from our branch farm in Kent.
December 2018 - Seasons Greetings from our London and East Branch!
We'd liked to have put up some lovely Christmassy pics of the birds in a winter wonderland, but it's been very mild here in Norfolk. So, here are a few of them...erm...sunbathing.
Wishing all of our schools, nurseries and care homes a fantastic Christmas!
October 2018 - Settling down for winter on the farm...
Rare breeds from the breeding flocks at our branch farm covering Scotland, the North and the Midlands. These breeds are all listed with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Here at Incredible Eggs we preserve many fabulous old heritage breeds such as these.
From left to right: A Dewlap Toulouse goose, a Sablepoot chicken and a trio of Welsh Harlequin ducks.
September 2018 - Bon Voyage!
Our second grey partridge release has taken place. These partridges were hatched in schools in the South East of England during the summer term this year. Several months later and it is now time to go forth, pair up and hopefully multiply!
It took them just a few moments to find their 'big-sky' wings and then off they flew into the Kent countryside. Take a listen to how excited they sound in the video below...
August 2018 - Grey Partridge Update:
Some wonderful news - a successful adoption!
After our first partridge release in Norfolk, the partridges came back to feed and drink each morning and evening. One morning we managed to get this footage from our remote camera. Here you can see the mature wild grey partridge who has adopted our juveniles - it's the larger bird who comes to the front and looks directly at the camera! Although the quality of the footage is not high, you can still see what a beautiful bird this is.
Wild grey partridges are very shy and we would never have got this close in person. We are thrilled that this amazing bird has taken our babies under its wing and is teaching them how to live wild. Clever Mother Nature! They haven't been back to the pen for a week or so now, but we have seen them flying over the cornfields with their new parent. We'll post more reports as and when we have them.
August 2018 - Apple munching and duck watching
Gorgeous August - who wouldn't want to be working outside on perfect days like these?
Memories to treasure during the dark, cold months that lay ahead!
Photos taken at our Scotland/North/Midlands farm.
August 2018 - A Surprise chick at our South East branch!
There's just no stopping a broody hen. Look who had hidden herself away under the hen house on top of a great big pile of secret eggs. She emerged a couple of days ago with one single, very gorgeous chick! We suspect this is going to be one seriously pampered baby. Mum is a pure breed called a Light Sussex.
August 2018 - A 'flying visit' from the partridges...
This footage was captured on our remote camera a couple of days after the birds were released. A quick bite to eat and drink and then off they flew back into the evening sunshine. The partridges will have access to food, water and shelter at all release sites throughout their first winter.
July 2018 - Grey Partridge Release Number 1
Our first release has taken place at our London and East branch! We were very excited to find a mature wild grey partridge had started to spend time around the partridge pens - it would come in from the cornfields next to the release pen and quickly fly off when we got close. After consulting with other partridge conservationists, the general consensus was to release them NOW! This is because the wild bird had in all likelihood bonded with them, might adopt them and their chances would be much higher. So we did! We have kept food and water at the release site and set up a motion triggered camera, to keep a remote eye on any visits. We'll post any footage here. Good luck to our babies, now out there in the big wide world! Rearing them really was an absolute pleasure and we can't wait to do it all again next year.
Waiting to go...
...and they're gone!
Their new home.
June 2018 - Grey Partridge Update
Just to let you know that the partridges are doing really well. We're really hoping they will attract a mature wild grey partridge who will adopt them and teach them how to live in the wild. Research has proven that their chances of survival are much higher when this happens.
It's an amazing fact that wild single and barren pairs of mature grey partridges have a strong natural instinct to adopt parentless juveniles. They are drawn to the youngsters by the very distinctive sound they make.
Summer 2018 - Back at the farm
Here are some of our 'teenage' chickens hatched in schools, nurseries and care homes earlier in the year. Those cute, fluffy chicks have grown quite a bit since then! Now enjoying the start of summer and a free-ranging life back on the farm at Incredible Eggs South East in Kent.
Summer 2018 - Out on the Isle of Wight...
"I just wanted to message you and the Incredible Eggs team to express a huge thank you from all of the residents and staff at St Vincents. Our duckling experience was incredible and we all thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. We were so pleased that we managed to hatch all six eggs and to see them develop and grow over the week. Swimming and cuddles time was a particular favourite of our residents. None of our residents had ever seen a bird hatch from an egg and said that it was such an honour to witness and a wonderful event to witness during the final chapter of their lives. I thank you all for making such a wonderful experience possible. I have attached some photos of our experience. We have so many photos, but I just wanted to share a few as they may help encourage others to book this wonderful experience for their residents. With sincere thanks."
Sharon Atter, Registered Manager,SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity,St Vincents Care Home, Isle of Wight
Late Spring 2018 - Operation Grey Partridge Update
"We absolutely loved having the partridge chicks and were sad to see them go today...We've had hen chicks in the past, but I definitely preferred the partridges, not only because they are cleaner(!), but it was lovely to talk to the children about the conservation project and use some of the resources to illustrate the issue...It was a very successful project and one we would certainly hope to do again. Many thanks and best wishes."
Orchard House School, London
A huge thank you to all the schools who have taken part in our mission to increase the numbers of this iconic native bird. Here are some of the first partridges hatched in schools, now back at the farm where they will stay until they are ready to be released into the wild in the autumn. We've built their rearing pens extra-high, so they can get in plenty of flying practice. As you can see from the photos, this seems to be one of their favourite activities - and they're pretty good at it already!
We'll keep you up to date on their progress via this blog.
Click here to read more about this unique conservation project
Late Spring 2018
- Not all chicken eggs are brown!
Here are just a few of the eggs we collected today from our gorgeous free-range chickens at our London and East branch. These will be going out to schools, nurseries and care homes in 3 weeks time, when they are ready to hatch. The blue/green eggs were laid by our Cream Legbars and the pink/orange eggs by our Light Sussex.
Thank you ladies - almost a rainbow!
Late Spring 2018 - See how they've grown
Here are some of the ducklings hatched in schools, nurseries and care homes earlier in the year from our South West branch. Now enjoying life on the pond back on the farm in Cornwall...and looking a LOT bigger!
Spring 2018 - Chicks galore!
Spring has definitely sprung at our London and East branch. Meet first-time mum, a lavender Pekin called 'Mad Hen' (don't ask!). Luckily she's temporarily stopped being mad and is instead being very sensible and doing a fab job taking care of her gorgeous new brood. Dad ('Crackers', from further down this blog), is keeping a watchful eye and being the perfect gentleman.
Spring 2018 - Simply beautiful
"We have absolutely loved this experience. I have attached some of our photos of our ducklings having fun!"
A massive 'WOW!" and thank you to Sarah from Arnett Hills School in Hertfordshire for sending in these stunning photographs - they are all absolutely beautiful.
Spring 2018 - A BIG thank you to the students and teachers at Minet Infants and Nursery School in London!
Just a tiny selection of the many fabulous cards, letters and drawings sent in to us.
Wow! What wonderful work and thank you all so much!
Spring 2018 - Proud to be inspiring and educating the next generation of poultry enthusiasts
Max, Solly and Mum, Ginette, have been planning their venture into chicken keeping for some time. It was perfect timing that the big day finally happened over the Easter weekend! After careful consideration and lots of advice from our London and East branch, three chicks (one each) were chosen. Derek, Luciene and Jimi HENdrix are now off to enjoy a wonderful life together.
An Easter to remember for one family!
Spring 2018 - Our first ducklings return from schools, nurseries and care homes. It's duckling party time!
Some of our London and East branch ducklings enjoying making new friends and charging around their stable. When they're a little bigger and the weather a little warmer, the door will be opened and they'll be allowed to start exploring the paddock. Not quite yet though - indoor play only for now!
Spring 2018 - And we're off! Hello Hatching Season 2018!
"We have 5 beautiful healthy ducklings and an experience beyond our dreams. Thank you."
Bede Burn Primary School, Newcastle
If you'd like to share your Incredible Eggs pics, please send to headoffice@incredibleeggs.co.uk
We'd love to see them!
Winter, early 2018 - New 'des res' for the ducks!
North and Midlands branch manager Jack has been putting the quiet winter months to good use and built these rather splendid new duck houses in the orchard. New homes AND delicious apples to munch on in the summer and autumn! Duck heaven!
Winter, early 2018 - Waiting for Spring...
Some arty winter poultry portraits to enjoy, taken at our London and East branch. Something pretty to look at whilst we all wait for the weather to warm up!
