Several weeks ago, a friend graciously offered to lend us their incubator and provide fertilized chicken and duck eggs to start our flock. Of course, we said a squeally, “Yes!”
When the eggs and incubator arrived, we immediately got them set up. Eggs on their side, add water, crank up the heat, and…..waaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiittttt.
Every evening the kids would ask to check the eggs, which was beyond fascinating. Think ultrasound for your baby, but anytime you want!
This process of looking inside the egg is called, “candling” because in years past, a candle was held under the egg in dark room. Today, we use LED lights, but still get the same results. You can see the veins, air sack and the dark blob that is a baby chick!!!! (EEEKKK!!!!) We could also watch the heart beat and the baby move. (And, I won’t jump on the life soapbox, but come on, we can see its alive even if it’s not actually breathing. None of us would want to crack this egg in a frying pan.)
So, around the two week point we knew it was time to make a mini-chicken coop, since the large one is housing the kittens, and the chicks would be too small for the huge area. We were hard at work on the fencing project, but paused for an evening to make a mini chicken tractor. (This has no bottom and allows the chickens to freely eat the bugs in the grass. Once they are old enough, we plan to move the tractor around for bug- elimination.)
First up, we discussed our plan of attack and settled on a simple design using scrap materials from various projects.
Then, Nathan cut the wood for posts and support beams. We laid out the posts and began attaching the beams, but realized it would be better to add the hardware cloth in between the two pieces of wood.
Once the posts were screwed in place, Nathan stapled the hardware cloth to the wood support beams.
We made the long sides first, then added the shorter sides. This created the main part of the coop.
Finally, we created the top for the coop using wood and hardware cloth. Nathan added a “handle” to remove the lid. Eventually, we will add wheels for easier transport.
Making the coop felt very much like packing the hospital bag. Come on baby, we are ready for you!!
We hardly had to wait at all. Nathan surprised us the next night with……
12 snugly, fuzzy baby chicks! We were beyond elated. The kids quickly began naming these sweet babies. Franklin, Vegetable, Gloria… Okay, let’s be honest, who can tell the difference?!
We ran off to spend a day at the creek with friends, and returned to our next surprise….
A tiny little beak trying to break free! We weren’t sure when it would happen, but the next morning when Nathan got up for work this little chick had hatched and a second was working its way out, too. By the time I woke up, we had 2 hatched chicks!
They will remain in the incubator for the rest of today. Tomorrow, they will join the others, but in their own separate box. In a few days, they can all meet! Yay!!!
