Hatching Chicks
It's three weeks since the chicks emerged from their shells, you can watch one hatching on this video clip.
They come out all sticky with their fluff stuck to their skin but immediately begin to try standing up. A comical couple of hours follow as they dry off, fluff up and topple backwards and forwards on their little stick legs. They also begin to peck at the ground and soon find their sources of chick crumb and water. By the following day they are running about at high speed, preening their imaginary feathers, scratching the ground with their feet and nodding off for thirty second naps slumping to sleep in the most peculiar poses. After just a few days their true feathers begin to emerge at the tips of their stumpy little wings, and a few days later the tail feathers. The rate of growth is amazing, and so is their rate of consumption for that matter. A daily litter change, or sometimes more than that, is required to keep odours at bay! They now sleep for longer spells, all together, in a little heap.
They currently reside in a large box under a heat lamp in the spare bedroom. Their loud chirps and constant scratching and pecking sounds have become part of the household, but in only eight weeks or so they will be having their first ventures outdoors and will have to find their pecking order in with the rest of the flock.
More chicken hatching videos, so cute.
Posted by: Eloise | May 27, 2008 at 11:31 PM
How wonderful, that is such a lovely experience for the children. Beautiful.
Posted by: Maddy | May 06, 2008 at 01:18 AM
The best thing is the commentary ;-)
Posted by: Flibbertygibbet | May 04, 2008 at 09:50 AM
Amazing how they know just what to do. We can all learn from that!
Posted by: debra | May 02, 2008 at 01:57 PM
Gorgeous! A.May.Zing! I have to go gather the kids in to see that vid.
Posted by: HandyCraftyWoman | May 01, 2008 at 01:08 PM
Beautiful! I am, as always, envious of you for having the mirakle of life in your everyday routine. I am still struggeling to find a house we can afford somewhere where there's a job for at least one of us.
Posted by: Sofisan | April 28, 2008 at 03:27 PM
that was wonderful!
I love coming to your blog and seeing what new is in store...what's happening on the farm
Posted by: teaching handwork | April 27, 2008 at 07:19 PM
Oh so sweet! My son and I enjoyed seeing your little chicks. Thanks for sharing. :)
Posted by: Pamela | April 26, 2008 at 06:12 PM