Over the weekend we were anticipating the arrival of a few new baby chicks.  We had 6 hens down broody (2 who broke their brood when we moved them into the new up-cycled broody coop) and the timing was just about right to welcome some new souls. Eggs take 21 days (apx) to hatch … and I find that crazy!  3 weeks from being my breakfast, to being a fluffy chick!

Mid day sunday I heard the first little chirps coming from the broody coop and discovered not one, but two chicks had hatched that day.

And then on Monday we were thrilled to be able to see a hatch in action!  I first noticed it when I check the eggs and noticed a tiny hole in one.  And then I heard the egg CHIRPING.  Totally surreal to hear an egg peep by the way!

The chick was slow to come out, and mom had to help a little bit.

The process was pretty slow, and she still hadn’t hatched by night time. The kids were bummed to leave her, but honestly, it was a little bit like watching paint dry (and we didn’t want to rush her).  I was amazed at the sheath inside the egg shell. It was covered in blood filled veins, and as the chick broke through, the blood actually pooled a little.  Below you can see her little beak slowly trying to push free.

She did end up hatching, on her own, under her mama, sometime in the night and we were greeted with her fluffiness on Tuesday morning.

I am continually reminded WHY we chose to live here, and have a rural life for our kids.  The opportunity to see newborn chicks and life in progress is amazing for them.

So, we welcome Spike, Brindle and Scrambled to our family this weekend!  Fingers crossed nobody starts crowing in a few months!