Well last night I candled again and I am super excited to report that every egg looks spot on for growth and development. Ethel is getting better and better about letting me get the eggs out from under her, she screamed at me last night, but only once and short one at that. Lucy doesn't scream anymore at all. So much has happened as far as growth during this past week.
On day 8 the feathers began to appear and by the tenth day the beak has hardened. On the thirteenth day the legs began to form scales and claws started to develop at the end of the toes. Yesterday, on day fourteen, the chick starts the process of getting itself into position suitable for hatching. I will not handle them again now until they hatch. Lucy and Ethel will get them how they want them and they will quite rotating them when they know the time is right. It will be nice to have babies running around the chicken yard soon. I am really excited to see what they will look like when they hatch out since they are all going to be barnyard mutts.
In other exciting news on the 9th of March I will be filling my large incubator with eggs....these will hopefully then hatch on the Saturday before Easter...who doesn't like baby chicks for Easter? These will be the last ones I hatch until we have breeding pens set up and I can collect eggs that will be purebred and of my choosing. I did take a few walks this week through the farm store to look at the chicks they have for sale, and to my husbands surprise I walked out empty handed. I have also not placed an order with the hatchery this year either. Perhaps I am getting my chicken math under control???? Only time will tell!
I can't believe that it's almost time! It is facinating that they grow inside the shell so quickly...I can't wait for them to hatch and see all of the beautiful chicks!
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