Ducklings hatch at Butler Library
The chirping coming from the children’s section at the Butler Area Public Library is not being “hushed” this week.
It all started Thursday evening, when the first duckling beak poked through its egg and entered the world. Lori Hinderliter, director of the Butler library, said the firstborn sibling got tired of waiting Thursday evening and began to peck at the other eggs in the incubator. With a little help, the rest of the eggs hatched overnight.
The library has hatched chicks and quails in previous years. Tiffany Harkleroad, children’s librarian, said a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit called Rent the Chicken recommended that its clients get experience with easier birds before taking on duck eggs.
“Duck hatches are very different; they take a lot longer,” Harkleroad said. “The length we have them as birds is shorter. The chicks and quails we had for about two weeks.
“It makes sense because the ducks are going to try to start flying, and they are also bigger and grow very, very quickly.”
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