The unlikely sight of a hen minding a paddling of ducklings is now a regular fixture at a recreational farm  in Hsinchu County’s Zhu-Dong Township.

According its proprietor, Lin Jien-cheng, the peculiar relationship is due to the arrangement of the farm, which places the hatcheries for chickens and ducks within close proximity.

Consequently, ducks and hens often return to the wrong hatchery from foraging and proceed to sit on the clutches of eggs  indiscriminately.

According to Lin, the ducklings emerged from their eggs five days ago and the first thing they saw was a black-feathered hen.

Lin says the 12 ducklings quickly latched onto the hen, and surprisingly, the hen became their adoptive mother and began caring for them.

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