Office Distraction

Earlier this month one of my 4-H poultry groups asked me if they could put an incubator in my office so their club could hatch some chicks. Of course I gave them an enthusiastic YES and I have been just as excited as the kids have through this entire process. Yes, we do have chickens of our own, but we have never hatched chicks using an incubator.

When I arrived at work on Tuesday morning, I could hear an odd sounded when I walked in the door. I went over and looked in the incubator to make sure everything was okay. This is what I found...a new chick...peeping up a storm. The eggs were due to start hatching sometime on Wednesday, so this little one was a full day early. Over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday, we had a total of six eggs hatch. It was a fascinating process to watch and a huge distraction for our entire office...but one we have all enjoyed and learned from.


Last night when I left the office there were no more eggs hatching and the chicks were doing well in the brooder they had been moved into. I worried about them all night and even came into work very early this morning to make sure they were all okay. (I take my job as a "Chicken Momma" very seriously!) Everyone was doing well, peeping happily in their box. I moved the two that hatched late yesterday from the incubator to the brooder and they were happy to join the other chicks. Imagine my surprise when an hour later, I noticed another egg hatching. This egg is considered a late bloomer and needed a bit of help. The poultry club leader arrived early this morning to get the chicks and take them home to her house where they will continue their journey of growing up to become 4-H show chickens. The new chick that was hatching did not get to leave as it must stay in the incubator until it is dry enough to move to the brooder. So I have one lone chick in my office now...we are bonding and I think just maybe this little one will be going home with me tonight.

4-H is about hands-on-learning....this little project was hands-on-learning at its Best!! (The photo is blurry because it was taken with my camera phone. I did take more photos with my camera and will post those later.)