Good news on two fronts today. First, the results are back from testing day: all nineteen ducks tested negative for both Avian Influenza and Pullorum-Typhoid. Clean bill of health, flock-wide.
What this means
Negative results across the board are exactly what we needed to keep moving forward on NPIP certification. It confirms that the swabbing, blood draws, and general indignity our ducks endured were worth it — the flock is healthy, and we now have documented proof of it. That's a real step toward being able to responsibly sell hatching eggs and breeding stock down the line.
It's also just a relief. Waiting on test results for nineteen birds you care about is its own kind of stressful, even when you're confident in your biosecurity practices.
And then there were eggs
As if the flock wanted to celebrate right alongside us, this morning brought five eggs — a noticeable jump from where we've been. It's looking less like a one-off and more like the start of a trend, with more of the hens appearing to come into lay.
Timing-wise, it's hard not to enjoy the coincidence: a flock that just got a clean health report is also a flock that's ramping up production. Good health and good numbers tend to go hand in hand, and today felt like proof of that.
Two wins, one day
Days like this are why the unglamorous work matters. The testing, the paperwork, the biosecurity — it all adds up to a flock that's healthy enough to thrive, and thriving looks like five eggs on a Friday morning. We'll take it.