We signed up with our local 4-H extension office to hatch a dozen fertilized eggs at our house this summer. For 20 days, we turned the eggs twice a day in their incubator and waited for some activity. The excitement of bringing home the eggs and incubator quickly wore off when nothing happened for several weeks.
Then, sure enough, on exactly day 20, one of the chickens hatched! We were surprised to find a black chicken, but we were happy our patience had paid off and we had chickens!
Over the course of 3 days, we ended up with 9 chickens, but only 8 survived. It was amazing to watch how quickly the chickens grew. They were incredibly noisy and stinky. They ate and drank as fast as we refilled their food and water. We were only able to keep them a week before the extension office needed them back to deliver to a local farm, and sadly we had to leave town unexpectedly in the middle of this excitement for my grandmother's funeral. The kids were happy that they were able to see the chickens hatch and hold them a few times though, so I would call the project a success.
They loved watching them and talking to them. The chickens were actually very social and seemed to enjoy when we came close to them. Owen and Dallin named each one, but I don't know how they kept track of who was who.
Look at the size of their feet! They would fit right in at our house!
Saying goodbye and getting ready to head to the farm!
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