How Long to Hatch an Easter Chick

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