Duchess Kate holds a snake and makes animal friends during adorable farm visit

Lambs, alpacas and snakes, oh my!

Duchess Kate got up close and personal with some adorable animals and even held a snake during a visit to the Ark Open Farm in Northern Ireland as part of the launch of her landmark survey on childhood development.

The mom and hands-on royal, 38, helped children bottle-feed a lamb and care for a guinea pig.

Kate also seemed to strike up a friendship with an alpaca at the farm.

And she helped children care for a hedgehog.

The Duchess of Cambridge spoke with parents and grandparents at the farm about their experiences raising young children tied to her "5 Big Questions on the Under-Fives" survey, released by The Royal Foundation, Prince William and Kate's charitable arm. The survey asks residents across the U.K. to share their thoughts on "raising the next generation" to "spark a national conversation on the early years that will ultimately help bring about positive, lasting change for generations to come," according to Kensington Palace.

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Kate's focus on early childhood development

Since becoming a mom, Kate has made early childhood development a focus of her royal work.

"Parents, carers and families are at the heart of caring for children in the formative years, so that is why I want to listen to them," Kate said in a statement announcing the survey in January. "As a parent I know how much we cherish the future health and happiness of our children."

"I want to hear the key issues affecting our families and communities so I can focus my work on where it is needed most," she added. "My ambition is to provide a lasting change for generations to come."

The survey includes questions on topics like what's most important for kids to live a happy adult life, who holds responsibility for giving kids the best shot in life and which period of a child's life is most important for health and happiness as adults.

The Duchess of Cambridge is known for incorporating hands-on visits with kids, parents and caregivers into her royal engagements.

Last year, Kate created a "Back to Nature" garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show to emphasize benefits of the outdoors on improving mental health, particularly for kids.

Kate is also patron of the Anna Freud Center, a London-based children's mental health charity.

The duchess's "5 big questions survey" is focused on feedback from adults age 16 and above who live in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

"Whether you have children or not -- there are no right or wrong answers, we want to hear what you think," the survey states.

ABC News' Katie Kindelan contributed to this report.