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Sunday 14 March 2010

Thank goodness !

A while ago ( about a month) I lent my incubator to the primary school so that they could hatch some eggs into chicks (!) .I did have a few sleepless nights when I prayed fervently that the eggs would hatch , and a few nightmares when nothing did and I had 200+ upset children to deal with , but last week the chicks began to hatch.

On the monday night the first egg'pipped' and by Tues morning we had 2 chicks - sadly one died almost immediately - but Tues and Wed were a hive of activity in the incubator and a source of fascination for children and staff alike .By Thurs we had 10 chicks and the final two hatched early on Thursday. Thank god we had 12 chicks . We had put 18 into the incubator , 4 were infertile , 1 died at birth and 1 never made it out of the egg , but on the whole I am pretty pleased with 12.

The children and parents have been a source of amusement for me and my children . I forget that , despite living in a rural area, many do not have the slightest idea how hens are made ; the parents have been as amazed as the children and the best question ( worst) was from an adult who asked what the chicks would be when they grew up ! hens ?! my reply was that yes they would be hens , or maybe roosters , the parent said ' thats fine with the yellow chicks , but what will the black chicks be ?' ' Hens '. the light began to dawn- ' do you mean that all chicks aren't yellow'? I suggested that different breeds might be different colours like dogs are different shapes and sizes ......

We have to choose 3 chicks for the school to rear and keep in their hen house ( not yet built) , luckily we put 3 different types of hens' eggs in , and will hopefully have 3 different coloured hens . There are 2 yellow chicks ( white hens) 3 stripey chicks ( legbar crosses) and 7 black chicks ( barnevelder crosses) - so fingers crossed.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I think that is absolutely awesome! It's always so much fun watching the kids learn all those minute details that we tend to take for granted. But to see the wonder light up in their eyes can refresh our own enjoyment. Can't think of anything better for reminding us why we drown ourselves in so many chores! Let's see... this is March. Now - will the kids get to continue watching their growth through next school season? Or - how is all that working out?

Suzanne@ Panteg Alpacas said...

The chicks are coming to me for holidays , but otherwise they are staying in school . I have lent them a heat box and lamp and the chicks are in the foyer so that all the kids can seem them , and cleaning and feeding etc. is rotated round the classes

Eliane said...

Oh do tell, who was it with the daft question? I thought you couldn't move to the Brecon Beacons without getting chickens.

Suzanne@ Panteg Alpacas said...

to be honest I was so stunned I have blanked it from my memory