It is spring time and for us, that usually means a trip to the local feed store to pick out a few new additions to our flock. But this year we decided to do something a little different. This year we are trying our hand at hatching our own chicks!
At the beginning of winter, I won a dozen hatching eggs. Well, winter in Michigan is no time to be hatching baby chicks. I had no desire to have chickens living in my house for months, so I arranged that the eggs be shipped as soon as the weather turned nice enough.
We got word that our eggs had shipped and let me tell you, the oldest country kid paced the floors for days waiting for the mail lady to bring our package. The day they arrived, you would have thought it was Christmas, with sequels of glee and leaping off of furniture.
We already had the incubator up and running so it could be dialed in to the proper temperature and humidity, 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit and 45-50% humidity. All we had to do is unpack our eggs and get them in the incubator. There was so much babble wrap in that little egg carton, and none of the eggs had been damaged during shipping!
We took a pencil and marked each egg with an X on one side and an O on the other because we are hand turning the eggs. These marks make it possible to know it is been turned over properly. We are turning our eggs three times a day.
I am not the most patient person in the world. I really wanted to know how many eggs were actually developing. I was excited at the one week mark that we have 8 viable, developing eggs! The egg on the left was not fertile, while the egg on the right shows vein development in the egg.
It has been incredible so far to see the eggs developing. In just over a week, you can see little birds moving in their shells when you candle them. The have a vary big dark eye. We have even seen a foot or two wiggling! The eggs are also gaining weight. They are becoming so “full” of developing chicks it is getting harder to see them as they are not as transparent as they once were. Fingers crossed that around April 10th we will be welcoming 8 new little lives to the world!
While we wait for hatching day, enjoy a little video of one of our dancing chicks……
I love hatching chicks! When I've worked in schools I've done it several times. So much fun when they finally hatch and start running around with each other! But I do not like saying goodbye to them at the end.
We are only going to keep two, so it will be sad when the other go to new homes.
This is great and a wonderful experience for your children. We have tried incubation but have never had anything hatch yet, so I am going to try again shortly. What type of incubator do you use?? Thanks for sharing this at Good Morning Mondays. Blessings to you and yours Mindie.
We are just using a cheaper Styrofoam one. Not sure the name.
Because the days are getting longer, my hens are sitting longer and longer on the nest – they want to go broody. I don't dare let them, though, because it's still so cold and there's so much snow still here on the east coast. Good luck with your chicks. I look forward to warmer weather so we can get some chicks, too. I love having broody hens – it's so much less work.
I was hoping one of our girls would go broody. We have NEVER had a broody hen. Go figure.
Dropping in from Wednesdays Wisdom. That post was so cool. How very interesting and I am not even a kid. How wonderful for your children, All the best for the 10th. I will remember as it is the same day that my Blog Booster Party opens for the first time. You can see my post on Wednesdays Wisdom. I hope all eight live and be healthy and you show us some more photos of the chicks.
Sadly one of the eggs stop developing *pout* but the other 7 are going strong. I am totally freaking out. I just want them to hatch already LOL I think I am worse then the kids!!! 48 hours to go!
I love your little dancing chick video, thank you so much for sharing on #wednesdayswisdom. you always link up interesting posts.
"interesting" LOL Glad you enjoyed the peek.
I just love this! I would like to try hatching my own someday. I'm a little scared about the whole process. I'll stick with chicks until I become brave.
Trust me, I am all nerves! LOL It is day 20 this morning and I am on pins and needles.
This is so cool! 🙂
Cathy
We are having such a great time with this adventure 🙂
So cool! Thanks for sharing with the Frugal Family linky!
It really has been a fun adventure.
How exciting! My Nana raised chickens and we had an endless supply of fresh eggs. Thank you very much for joining in the celebration of #purebloglove, we enjoy having you each week. I hope to see you on Thursday at 8PM, EST through Sunday night. ~Cydnee
Thanks so much for hosting!