Egg Hatching at the Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Carnival Feather Friends Reunion

Carnival Feather Friends Reunion
Originally uploaded by librarian.laura

We had a great time at the carnival showing off our feathered friend!

Carnival Foster Chick Parent Reunion

Carnival Foster Chick Parent Reunion
Originally uploaded by librarian.laura

Lemon visits her Foster parent at the carnival. "Wow have they grown!" These two expert "Foster Chick Parents" show how to hold and catch a chicken. Kids had a chance to pet a chicken and ask questions about the Foster Chick program.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Two White Leghorn Hens

Two White Leghorn Hens
Originally uploaded by librarian.laura

These two hens were too hard to catch so they are staying with me. All the other chicks went to a farm in Southern Indiana.

I heard a story that you could tell a rooster from a hen by how quick they moved as chicks. The hens tend to run and hide while the rooster is more likely to be in the middle of the commotion. The comb grows slower on the hen's head and their legs may be shorter.

All the 2009 library chicks that I have (6) will attend the carnival on August 7th. See you there!

Three Hens and a Rooster

Three Hens and a Rooster
Originally uploaded by librarian.laura

The chicks have grown a bit. It looks like one of the New Hamphire Bantams is a rooster. It has been quiet around the yard in the morning so he can add to the atmosphere when he learns to crow. He does not have any other rooster to compete with. It may take him a while to start crowing. The "peeps" have been replaced by a crackly murmur. It is a strange sound for a chicken. I think they are trying to find their grown up voice.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

New Hampshire Bantams 4 Weeks

New Hampshire Bantams 4 Weeks
Originally uploaded by librarian.laura

Look at these sweet ones. They are still friendly and will let me hold them. The White Leghorns are flighty and do not like to be caught.

What have you been doing the last 4 weeks?

What have you been doing the last 4 weeks
Originally uploaded by librarian.laura

Since my favorite contact to take the chicks did not want them this year all the chicks came to our home.

A dozen did find their way to a former foster chick family. They loved this project so much they moved so they could raise chickens. ( just kidding... I am not sure why they moved but they did want to raise chickens now that they are able.)

I am still looking for a suitable home for the chicks. Until then they are happy in the hen house....but eating like crazy!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

How are you doing?

How are you doing
Originally uploaded by librarian.laura

All is well. We are growing new feathers and getting to know all the new chicks in the pen. We sleep in a great big pile. If a bug finds it's way into our box we capture it and run around like crazy.

Hope all is well with our foster families. When we finish growing most of our feathers we will head off to the farm.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Cuties in the Sunshine

Cuties in the Sunshine
Originally uploaded by librarian.laura

Fun in the sun!

The Chicks Return

34 Chicks
Originally uploaded by librarian.laura

We had a nice reunion with the chicks and the their "chick mommies & daddies". We shared common joys and tears of this experience. One of the favorite activities was taking the chicks out in the sunshine to see the big wide world.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

All the chicks return today!

Margie and Ginny Leghorn
Originally uploaded by librarian.laura

The chicks will return today for the Reunion Party. Each foster "parent" will share special moments of their experience and show a poster that will be on display at the library for the next several weeks.

We have had some great times watching chicken behavior and bonding with the small dependent balls of fluff. We have had some sad times too. Two chicks died a few days after hatching with no apparent cause. Sometimes the chicks don't develop properly and can not grow. We talked about the possibility that not all chicks that hatch will survive. It is difficult when they become our little friends and we have to deal with loss. For those who have lost pets it is easy to understand the sadness and then acceptance of the reality of nature.

We will celebrate with fun pictures and stories of our fine feathered friends. We hope that our chicks grow into beautiful egg laying hens like Margie and Ginny! We will update you on the next farm they will go to.