STAFF at Marwell Zoo are have a cracking time.

Celebrations are underway as they have announced a record-breaking number of flamingo chicks have hatched.

The fluffy grey youngsters range from a few days old, to a week old, and are still finding their feet.

Three years ago keepers introduced various techniques to encourage the Greater flamingos to breed.

Now four flamingos have hatched at Marwell, itself a record, but staff say there could be more excitement on the way.

Ross Brown, Marwell’s collection manager for birds, said: “We are delighted by these births. As well as new mirrors to give the illusion of an increased flock size and a recording of flamingo noises playing at the enclosure, we also gave our flamingos a choice of nest sites. And it looks like the hard work has paid off.

“At the moment we have 4 chicks, which is amazing, but watch this space as we have five eggs left that may hatch too.”

At first the birds will be left to bond with their parents, but in a few weeks animal teams will take a closer look to see if they have males or females on their hands.

Flamingos incubate their eggs for 30 days and parents take it in turns to look after the young.

Young flamingos are grey and do not turn pink for two years. For the first three to four weeks, the chick is fed entirely by the parents who secrete a creamy pink liquid called crop milk.