Backyard Science Friday - Hatching Eggs

Each day, William and I take the bantam hen from her crate and make her eat and drink. She seems content to hunker down on the eggs in a hunger strike, willing them to turn to chicks by pure determination. Two of the eggs are green, and we knew already they were "duds", as she has been sitting on them about six weeks, though it only takes three to hatch. Two, both brown, we tucked under her around three weeks ago, so are nearly at due date.

Yesterday, we noticed that when she got out to eat and stretch her legs, it took only ten minutes for the green dud eggs to turn cold, as there is no chick inside. By contrast, the brown eggs were still warm, as the chicks inside radiated heat to the shell. By softly laying your fingers on the egg, you can feel small movements of the chicks inside. Sometimes, when very close to hatching, you can hear them peep from inside the egg.

The hen, were you to reach underneath her, has by now lost all her feathers on her belly, providing skin to egg contact for better warming of the eggs. If you approach her, she swells and lifts her wings, giving a warning sound and lowering her head. As I approach, she now knows I'm likely bringing berries or a treat to eat, and she tries to peck at my gold wedding band.

Because she is a bantam, she is more like a pet and accepting of being held and touched more than a full-sized hen, most of whom have had all sense bred out of them. I should have photos of at least one chick by the next week.

Did you learn any backyard science this week? Email me and I'll link to your blog below.

Backyard Friday Participants
Show me something you are learning in your backyard.

This week's participants:
In the Good Shepherd's Care