Happy Chicks
It's going to be a very exciting ten days in Reception Class. We will be caring for and hatching our very own live chicks. Read on to find out more...
On Monday morning, Farmer Mark arrived from the Happy Chick Company. He brought a little incubator and put 10 eggs inside. We had to monitor the temperature of the incubator and top it up with warm water - this kept the eggs moist and soft so the chicks can crack the shell easily when hatching.
On Wednesday our little friends started to hatch one by one. Click on the images to watch...
Did you know? When baby chickens hatch, they actually eat the yolk and the membrane of their eggshell, which provides them with lots of very valuable nutrients. They don't need to feed again until 1- 2 days after they have hatched.
The chicks find their lovely singing voices quite soon after they have hatched. Click the image to listen...
The chicks had to spend 24 hours in the incubator to dry out. On Thursday it was time to transfer the chicks to their bigger new home called a brooder box. We prepared this by lining the base with paper and wood chippings, and filling water and food containers. The brooder box has a special heat lamp to keep the chicks warm.
We carefully transferred the chicks one at a time...
The chicks absolutely love their new home - click to watch...
We have absolutely loved our first week with the chicks and all the lovely learning opportunities this has brought to our classroom...
We have been learning a cool song about spring chickens. Click on the link to sing along at home...
