CHICKENS!

As I write this, we have eight chickens, a pip, and 10 still making up their minds. I am beyond thankful that they weren't hurt when the temps spiked.

It's so cute to watch them stumble around the incubator and snuggle with the sponges.

They explore with their beaks like dogs explore the world with their mouths, but pecking instead of licking. They peck the incubator, they peck the sponges, they peck the eggshells, and of course, they peck at each other.

Humidity has increased with the hatched eggs, which was expected, so in addition to the two plugs, I have lifted both windows a smidge to regulate it. The chicks need to dry off and they can't if the humidity is too high. But it's a delicate balancing act between temperature and humidity between the chicks and the eggs.

After this pip has zipped and dried we will probably start transferring them to the brooder. That is, unless there is another pip that happens in the meantime. All in all the eggs have up to 25 days to hatch in the normal range, so the 10 that haven't started to hatch still have a little time.

Even then I will perform a float test to make sure there's not a chick before I give up. Supposedly you can put the egg in some warm water and it will move if there is a viable chick, you just have to make absolutely sure there's no pip in the egg or they'll drown.

We have a screen in between the existing flock and the new so that they can get acquainted but no fights break out.

The baby side has shelf liner for better grip and a softer fall. They get medicated chick feed since they haven't been vaccinated against coccidiosis, and their water has electrolytes and probiotics (which I also give to the bigger chicks). 

I'm looking forward to proving that it's the ducks who cause the mess... and having one section of the brooder that's not so yucky.

There are egg shells everywhere... oh the carnage.

And out of something so innocuous comes this... 

A cute little chicken baby.

Is it wrong that I was tempted by more chickens at Tractor Supply today? They had different breeds... but you have to buy them in groups of six and I just wanted two. I asked if they ever had sebrights... they apparently get mystery boxes so they had no idea. Not helpful. I want sebrights and silkies...