Meet Pipsqueak....our firstborn.~
By 9.30 last night the first chick was drying out and cheeping away to itself. After a brief look at her we left the incubator alone, we thought better to keep the room dark and not disturb them too much.....but it was SO hard to peel myself away.
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I went to check on them at first light after seeing to all the other animals, we are in a frosty wonderland here on the farm today and frustratingly all the troughs and feeders had to be thawed out, meaning I got to my little babies much later than I would have liked.
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But there was Pipsqueak all dried out and fluffy, and amazingly when I called 'chook, chook, chook' she clambered over the other eggs and dividers to get to my hand and jumped on.....I truly am Mummy!
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Then I witnessed the birth of the second chick, all the noise me and Pipsqueak were making triggered a monumental effort on the part of chick number two.......
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...and she heaved herself out of her shell and draped herself over the divider....
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...thrashing backwards and forwards in exhaustion....
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...with her little heart visably pounding in her chest, she got her bearings.
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I gently placed her over the divider in the larger space with Pipsqueak...
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...and left her curled up in the corner to re-cuperate from her tremendous effort. Next to her is her little sister which as I type this is now almost ready to pop out completely.
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Pipsqueak showed lots of interest in her new little sibling and cheeped for all she was worth.~
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The next stage is for them to move into this box with the heat lamp set on the tripod over it to keep them cosy for their first couple of days, then it will be into the brooder cage. But for now they are all still in the incubator, it keeps them nice and warm and their cheeping encourages the others to begin the long journey into this frosty world.
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Back with another update and more photos tomorrow.
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Hello Big Wide World!
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Sue xx
Absolutely beautiful Sue. What a wonderful way to start the day - with a very warm cosy, 'chook, chooking' feeling and welcoming your new brood. Well done. Look forward to seeing the others. Ann x
ReplyDeleteSo adorable and a lovely surprise. Looking forward to seeing the rest of your brood.
ReplyDeleteJo xx
Really looking forward to following these chicks. Such lucky little chicks they're going to be...
ReplyDeleteNear to Bruice's stable is a battery-raising chick house. The tiny wee ones arrive at around a day old and stay in the rearing unit until 14 weeks and they they go en masse to the battery egg unit where they stay in cages until just over a year and then they off to be "processed" for pet food.
What life (I use the word loosely) is that, compared to what these little chicks will have...and they all begin in exactly the same hopeful way.
I understand animals will be eaten, but its so wrong for them to have awful lives in order to do so isn't it, and it makes my heart sing that you and so many more people like you are raising animals with care and kindness, and appreciation.
Since we acquired our 2 old hens it's really hit home just how awful caged life must've been for them.
I'll climb down of the soapbox now :))
xx
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! I am not going to get an incubator, I am not going to get an incubator, I am not going to get an incubator...
ReplyDeleteDo I sound convincing? :)
Awww...they are so gorgeous, makes me feel all spring like! I had 7 baby platty fish born in my tropical fish tank over the weekend, they're no where near as cute!
ReplyDeleteRebecca x
How beautiful, can't wait till I'm ready to get mine!
ReplyDeleteHow sweet, must be so lovely to watch !
ReplyDeleteSue x
Gorgeous, I want some....must try to make the space....and some piglets too!!
ReplyDeleteOh how utterly beautiful. I am a wildlife rehabber (early retired);I specialised in birds....I love baby birds. I couldn't be a Mum to them because they were wild birds, so this is a real treat for me to see!
ReplyDeleteJane x
How magical Sue, thanks for sharing those pictures, I am sure Pipsqueak is going to be a brill big sis to all the new babies!
ReplyDeleteTake care
Sarah x
Claire......GET AN INCUBATOR.....you know you want to!!
ReplyDeleteOk, so now I know I get tearful over chick birth stories as well as human ones. Sadder and sadder! LOL.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful - can I ask how you know they are girls? (sorry, if this is an embarrassing rookie question)
Becky
xx
oooh ooh ooh I'm all emotional here. How do you know they are girls ? Oh, never mind that ... so beautiful, I wouldn't be able to drag myself away.
ReplyDeleteHaha....Becky... I don't!! I hope they are but I need to look at my book and see if there's any way I can tell at this age. If there's anyone out they who knows how to do this, let me know....please!!
ReplyDeleteUpdate - 1 more chick has just escaped it's egg, so we're up to the magic half a dozen now!
Sue xx
and Penny!!
ReplyDeleteOoooh, how sweet Sue. You're a Mummy again!Can't wait for the next batch of photos. Sue x
ReplyDeleteWOW...my 2 little girls are sooo excited to see them hatching..absolutely adorable...thing is they now want some ....will check tomorrow to see if anymore have emerged into the big wide world..
ReplyDeletesara,fern,iris
Unbelievably cute, you are so lucky to be able to witness them being born!
ReplyDelete