This morning I arrived in the classroom to find a total of 9 chicks flailing around the incubator. That's 9 hatchlings out of 14 eggs. But it looked like there were one or two more going to hatch. There was another olive egg with a hole in it wiggling around in the chaos. Now, I'm sure that there are two in there that are not going to hatch. So, I'm hoping we'll get about 11 or 12 chicks by the end of the day.
Here are some more photos of the little guys/gals. They were a bit alarmed by the stunning flash and sort of scrambled out of the lime light each time I tried to photo them. It's amazing they all look so different. I can't wait to get them home and tucked into a clean box with a nice warm lamp and some food and water. They might just be wondering where the big feathery momma is that was supposed to have been sitting on them this whole time.
I have to confess that when I saw that first chick hatched out all by itself, my heart went out to it. Seemed sort of an empty way to come into the world via incubator instead of mommy hen. But now that little one has a bunch of siblings/friends/rivals with which to cuddle.
Okay, I think they'll all do well. Valerie can't wait for this next batch of critters to move into her room. I just don't know how that girl can sleep without all the peeping and heat lamp action casting crazy chicken shadows on the wall all night.
In other news, that rain just keeps coming! My plants in the yard must be thrilled. Plus, we can give that pump a break. Even the five and half week old boys are enjoying the wet weather. They still run around outside.
Rex built the "Chicken Hut" to keep their food dry and give them a place to hang out (aside from the inside of their house).
Man, this chicken biz is a little bit addictive. I might just have too many chickens. Heaven help me when I get the call turkey poults are ready to come home.
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