Or in other words how long does it take for a chicken to hatch after you hear it peeping. And believe me a peeping egg is really weird. But they do. Peep that is. There is a little reservoir of air in sharp end of their egg and once they bust through into that air they are – peeping. For hours. So, How long does it take for a watched Kettle to boil? (Preferably without an egg in it.) That is how long it takes an egg to hatch.
It was 5am when John first noticed a wee hole appearing in one of the eggs in the incubator. They have been in there for almost 21 days. (Another time we need to discuss this 21 day thing. When breeding (or hatching) animals – 21 days comes up again and again. And there are 28 days in a lunar cycle so .. ?)
Anyway we saw the wee chick pecking at this hole. The girls got up. looked politely then kitted up and out to work in the field they went. Spreading straw and seed into the areas that the pigs have dug up. We do this every year – it is an easy way to introduce new growth. And the pigs only dig up the pasture at the end of the growing year when the grass loses its protein so it is a little job really. 
They were not hooked into egg watching yet. Not like me anyway. But I knew that soon they would be. So when the hole in the egg got bigger I called them in.
It took six hours to get to this stage (above) and the girls were in and out checking up on their chick who was peeping at them through the hole in her egg. We have re-named Miss Hong Kong: Chicken girl. She took over the chicken announcing with unabashed delight.
When this little foot flailed out into our view we all cheered.
No-one was getting any work done at this point.
Though one way or the other the whole field was fixed and the chickens were still hatching
In fact, though I hate to admit it, there was a little Jostling for a good view.
Then out she came. Seven hours from 5am.
We were so excited. She had to stay in the incubator until she was dry and interestingly but maybe not surprisingly she lurched like the proverbial drunken sailer across the incubator at a dead run to knock on the next egg that was already peeping. This one popped out much faster. Three hours. Then another. Another couple of hours. By then all the chores were done and it was time to start dinner. I served NZ roast chicken with crunchy Misky roast potatoes and Hong Kong pan fried vegetables. They discussed the English word Irony as they ate with relish. (When they first came I asked them if there were any foods they would prefer not to eat or were allergic to. They just looked at me – slightly shocked and a little confused then said they were grateful to eat anything I served, how rude not to and asked if we were going to Squeeze the cow. No, I said sadly we are still buying the milk. No squeezing of the cow today).
As we were doing the dishes after dinner John came in and said when are you going to put those two chicks in the brooder. They are wreaking havoc in there, he said. TWO! We all shrieked in unison dropping dishes with splashes back into the sink and bolting for the dog free snug to welcome the next one.
When I went to bed last night the three girls (one from Japan, one from Korea and one from Hong Kong) were all lined up on the couch with their phones and video cameras: watching – and moaning “I don’t want to go back to the university. Five are cracking! Miss C.” they said, without taking their eyes off the incubator. The incubator was peeping. The brooder was silent. (Once the chicks get under their Mother Heater in the brooder they go quite quiet, all you see are their little beaks – all lined up. Warm. Safe.)
I have to say here that these girls are in their mid twenties and finishing up some pretty high powered doctorates and degrees. But the break between food and home is even more terrible in their home lands. Yet they carry a delightful ability to love the little stuff – something that rings with me. This time has been a treasure for them and their phones are full of pictures of animals. 
Good morning. No sign of the girls yet this morning. And even more chicks under the Mama Heater – though I cannot see how many at this point. I hope I can get these young women up in time to pour them into the car in time to get them to their train on time. They are going to sleep all the way to Milwaukee.
I will send in the dogs – that should do it.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farm,
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
59 responses to “How Long to Hatch an Easter Chick”
Congratulations Mumma C and Daddy John..and Aunties from Hong Long , Japan and Korea…and welcome to the International Chicks
Ha ha – you’ll never get any work done if you step up egg hatching! Though I suppose the excitement will wear off eventually 😉
eeeeep!!! Little chicks are here!! 😀
Sounds to me like your 3 girls were brought up right ❤
Nanny Boo and his wet tongue should get them moving for their train heehee … Perhaps they are planning to over sleep so they miss their train and get to stay longer? {Thats what I would be doing 😉 }
I’ve reblogged my roast potato recipe, just in case anyone wants to try it, at http://miskcooks.com/2015/04/06/hestons-perfect-roasted-potatoes-2/ Heston gets all the credit though – not me. 🙂
Good morning, c, and happiness spring eternal for the arrival of the chicks!
>
Thanks Misky!
I just had a look at these roast potatoes I have to try them, thanks for the link
They sound delicious!!! Instead of boiling though – I am going to try the microwave. It works great for mashers also.
Yes. the dogs make a great alarm clock! I can feel and hear the buzz of excitement as you watch the peeping and pecking. New life is wonderful to watch.
As an aside, You are mentioned and linked to in my blog post today… I am talking cake!
Perfect timing, the hatching! 7 hours would have severely tested my patience. So pleased the others were quicker. Happy journeys back to Uni to the girls. Laura
Easter chicks, how perfect for the girls to see that…the magic of the farmy!
It’s so nice that the girls got to see the chicks hatch before they have to leave! Good luck to them – we’ll miss them!
i have been hatching poultry for 50+ years.
i am still amazed
Send in the dogs! My parents used to do that to get us out of bed. Good luck to the girls and to the chickies!
What’s hard sometimes is to not jump in and help the chicks as they are hatching from their shells, especially when they have been trying for 7 hours, as your first one. I know, of course, that they must hatch on their own, but sometimes, when they are struggling so, I do help to remove a tiny piece of shell that is stuck. And then they pop out just fine!
Set up your laptop opposite the hatching chicks and turn on Skype or FaceTime. That way, they can watch live feed on FarmyCom on the train. To be honest, I’d love to get feed on FarmyCom myself: Sheila snoring gently, the Dutchies chewing the cud, Tima and Tana wreaking havoc somewhere, Boo playing nanny to something small and fluffy. How very well organised of you to arrange for tiny fluffy chicks for Easter, Miss C… I think your
three girls will be dying to come back one day.
Ha ha – farmy cam 🙂
Exactly! How awesome would that be? We’ve had the sound, now for the action!
It would be brilliant but I don’t think Cecilia has the bandwidth 😦
No, but we can dream…
I can imagine a collar cam on Tima and a birth cam for Poppy… not to mention the chicks 🙂
I think the Lounge members would love a bit more video or soundtrack, it makes everything a bit more real, somehow. I’d like to drop in on piggy feeding time, or milking, or the chicks…
Filmed in farmorama 😉
Too funny!!
Just like the original Thunderbirds and Stingray filmed in Supermarionation 🙂
How perfect that they should hatch on Easter. I hatched a tortoise yesterday, too. Such excitement, but it is truly like watching grass grow. Such a slow process.
Baby crocodilians call to their mothers before they hatch, as well. Our late director used to call to them in the egg, and they would call back. Baby crocodilians ask their moms (or the nearest nesting female) to help them out of their eggs.
Oh who knew there’s so much conversation going on between mom and croc. Amazing!
What wonderful memories they will have of their farmy visit. I have never seen a chick hatch in real life and I would love to. Yes send the dogs in, they are really good at waking people up! We know that in this house, a certain little dog just loves pushing her face into yours. Ugg!
Chicks hatching on Easter surely is a good sign. Happy Monday everyone!