The first 3 chicks! Thursday April 9th

Here are the first 3, cuddling together inside the incubator

on the drying tray. Once they are dry and fluffy, we move

them into the brooder. I'll post pictures through out the

day. Lots of chicks still to come! Oh, it's so exciting!

The first peck! Wednesday, April 8th

Well they started pecking yesterday afternoon. Most of them

are making their long journey out of the eggs now!

2009 eggs!

Here are the 2009 eggs in our incubator! There is a lot of preparation involved. First we have to count the days on the calendar so they will start hatching on Easter weekend! It takes 21 days for incubation. So we have to make sure we have ordered the fertile eggs, get the incubator ready and at the correct temperature and then wait!

Every day, Connor's job is to check the temperature and the humidity levels. The water bucket that keeps the trays inside moist have to be filled every few days.

The gray metal trays holding the eggs, tilt every half an hour.

Our estimated hatching time is for next Friday, Good Friday!

We will photograph the process and post the images to the blog so you and your little ones can enjoy the experience with us.

Stay tuned! Keep Smiling, Robin

Scott holding his rooster, age 7

I wasn't kidding when I said that this tradition goes back a long way. Scott's Dad & Mom, Papa Ron & Nana Red started hatching chicks at Easter for Scott and his sister Shay when they were little.
I remember the first Easter I was dating Scott, we arrived at his Dad's house and there was a box full of baby chicks. Well, I was hooked! A few years later, we got married and had Connor. Scott bought a large incubator and we continued the tradition!
What do we do with these chickens, you ask? Well we let the kids enjoy the experience and then we take them to our friends farm!

Connor's baby shoes!

In 2007, I decided to have some fun and started photographing the chicks. On the first day they hatch, they are very docile. I could plop them in anything and they would just sit and look at the camera. Yes, they pooped on everything!

Now, I didn't set up any elaborate back drops and lighting equipment. I was just using our little compact Sony digital camera and grabbing fun little props from around the house. But our friends and family loved it!

So this year I'm going to be prepared and take some really good photos! I've got a ton of fun ideas to place the chicks in, stay tuned!!