| Hatching chicks at home is an exciting, educational | | | | of the egg and an O on the other so they can tell |
| project for your children. If you are joining the | | | | whether or not the egg has been turned. They |
| urban farming movement and have decided to | | | | must NOT skip a single day or the chick might be |
| raise chickens in your back yard, then hatching | | | | deformed. And they must remember not to turn |
| your first chicks from fertile eggs is a wonderful | | | | the eggs the last three days before hatching. |
| way for kids to see, up close, new life emerge | | | | 4) Kids can learn to candle the eggs. |
| into the world. They will never forget the thrill of | | | | By holding an egg up to bright light in a home |
| this very special experience. | | | | made candling box, the kids can learn to tell |
| Hatching chickens to keep at home for fresh | | | | whether or not a chick is developing inside. A |
| eggs and meat is a way many parents are | | | | chick shows up as a cloudy mass. Those eggs |
| choosing to connect their kids with the natural | | | | that remain clear and uniform are not fertile and |
| world, get them away from video games and | | | | should be discarded. |
| show them where their food really comes from. | | | | 5) Kids can help the baby chicks peck their way |
| The more you involve your children, the more | | | | out. |
| they will learn. Fertile eggs can be ordered from | | | | When the chicks began to break their way out of |
| breeders. Here are six ways your kids can help | | | | their shells, some become tired or stuck. Children |
| with the hatching. | | | | can carefully help these little ones fully hatch. As |
| 1.) Kids can help you build an incubator. | | | | they watch the damp newborns dry into fluffy, |
| You need an incubator to keep the fertile eggs at | | | | cheeping baby chickens, your kids experience a |
| the proper temperature and humidity for the 21 | | | | wonder of nature so many other youngsters |
| days it takes for a chick to hatch. The incubator | | | | never get a chance to see. |
| provides the same conditions as a setting hen. | | | | 6) Kids can feed and water the new babies. |
| Many simple plans are available on the Internet. | | | | While the chicks are in their brooder, warm and |
| 2.) Kids can check the temperature and humidity | | | | safe, you children can give them chick starter and |
| of the incubator. | | | | keep their water fresh and clean and watch the |
| With a thermometer and hygrometer from the | | | | chicks grow each day. |
| hardware store, your kids can make sure the | | | | Your children will even more fascinated with your |
| temperature is a steady 99.5 F (39.5 C) and the | | | | back yard chickens if they helped them hatch as |
| humidity at least 50% and higher toward the end | | | | chicks. They will enjoy the fresh, chemical-free |
| of the 21 days. | | | | eggs, understand more about how food is really |
| 3) Kids can turn the eggs every day. | | | | produced and spend less time with the TV as |
| A setting hen turns her eggs over several times | | | | they enjoy their very own little flock. Their lives |
| per day. Your children can do this with the eggs in | | | | will be the much richer for it. |
| the incubator. Have them mark and X on one side | | | | |