I stayed late at work today, but I wasn't working! I teach children with Emotional and behaviour problems, I am in my eleventh year at the same place. Currently I work three days a week but occasionally more if there are staffing issues. This year is the first time we have had an incubator to hatch chicks. The eggs were delivered this afternoon. At home time a little crack appeared in one egg and four out of twelve eggs were wobbling. If you were quiet you could hear the eggs cheaping. Very cute. I have never seen a chick hatch before it was fascinating. One chick was an early bird. I called my Mom to bring my sons round to watch. After approximately a two hour struggle with little cracks appearing and alot of wobbling the egg split open and out popped a bedraggled and heavily panting chick. He unfurled his little self and stretched his legs and wings, with lots of resting and panting. Within about ten minutes his little beady eyes were open and he was cheaping like crazy, bumping in to the other eggs. We were all spellbound. I felt sorry turning out the lights and leaving one lonely chick, but I am sure by the morning he will have playmates. I think the pupils will be amazed tomorrow, it is a shame they missed the first one. It will be nice to see the bedraggled chick all fluffed up and dried out. He looked like a little alien. My camera was not at work but I will take it tomorrow and see if I can get pictures to show you. I am not sure if chicks like flash photography. The man that dropped them off will collect them in twelve days he said if anyone wants any they can have them. He suggested a minimum of three. I have a small garden and a dog that currently loves to chase birds (I think I could teach her to leave them though) and twelve days is not long enough to build a chicken enclosure. I would love chickens, I have twelve days to convince myself it just isn't practical. Impulse buys with yarn and looms and stuff is one thing but chickens!!! My youngest son is on my side and wants chickens too. Any chicken advice for the urban garden would be gratefully received....
aww they will be cute tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI don't have chickens but I know that at my old house they weren't allowed. Part of the deeds to the house or something (I dunno, I didn't own the house, my parents did). My advice would be to check if you are even allowed to have them before you begin to make plans.
That is very sensible advice, who would I check with? The council?
ReplyDeleteHave you looked at "Eggloo"s I'll linky it in a Rav message to you? They are ideal for Urban chickens and you can pick them up more cheaply (if you'll pardon the pun) on ebay or through freecycle. My friend at work has urban chickens I can ask her any questions you like. It's different for me because I live in a hamlet and our closest neighbour keeps them so I don't have too although I am tempted.
ReplyDeleteLove Tickety-boo
xxxxx
Oh and usually the local permissions usually apply to not having cockrals more than hens because of the noise (mostly)but not always.
ReplyDeleteHoly Peeps!!! You are living my dream! I've wanted chickies forever, and finally my DH has relented and told me that I can have as many as I can take care of... but, now, like you, am wondering how on earth to get it done. We live in a rural community, so no big deal, but I'm having issues about the ethics of raising chickens in the epi-center of coyote country. DH gets a kick out of telling people that his wife wants to open up a drive-in for coyotes. We in New Mexico Cooperative Extension are all about doing things better- our Ag Specialist is working on a new and improved portable coop, called a "Chicken Tractor." Check out his video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKAQypq109M
ReplyDeleteI think it would work great for us, but DH is convinced that it's ready-made feasting for beasties.... HAH. Let me know what you think... XOXO Ursula
Tickety-boo I am mostly concerned about mess and smell I would only go for three chickens...jeepers I hope I really wouldn't want a cockerel! If you could ask your friend how stinky and messy they are I would be grateful. I have been looking at eglus they are great. Also what would I do in a cold winter like the one we have just had, I wouldn't want frozen chicken!
ReplyDeleteUrsula, I wouldn't for one minute think I am living anyone's dream. lol. I watched the video you linked to, he almost put me off, I would not want that many chickens and they scratch in their own manure!! I am sure any 'ladies' of mine would not do that. I hope the mess was just because there was a load of chickens. The 'Chicken Tractor' looked like really high maintainance to me. I am not sure we are troubled to that degree by Varmints. I have seen an urban fox trot by the house though. I will have to think very carefully on this one. I thought chickens would be like looking after wabbits, but only they lay eggs! More research needed. Fluffy chicks are cute but manure scratchers sound gross!
ReplyDeleteLucy, I have 3 chickens and we just love having our own fresh eggs! I hope you do get to keep them. Our coop has an enclosed run under it so the coyotes can't get to them. If you have any questions, just ask me! :-)
ReplyDeleteHugs from Oregon, USA -- Teresa :-)
Oh I can remember having eggs in an incubator at school when I was little-tadpoles too! We used to have a couple of chickens at home when I was younger, they used to spend all of their time playing in the horse poop! They were lovely though, and as they were used to us very tame and handleable-comical too! I do hope your current circumstances allow you to get a couple of them, nothing beats the taste of a free range egg you've collected from your own girls!
ReplyDeleteps-re: the above comment-the tadpoles were in a tank, not in the incubator with the chicks, just to clarify!!
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