Hatching day (round 3) part 2

Things got really busy here early this morning around 3am.  As I turned in last night around 10pm, we had three chicks drying in the incubator and the other eggs looked pretty still.  Around 3am, the party started.  One chick after another, came tumbling out.  Currently there are nine with a few eggs pecked with little bills protruding.

Let me once again apologize for the quality of the photo.  After learning my harsh lesson about opening the incubator too soon, these pictures were taken through the viewing portal.  I'll post better ones in another day or two once the babies are moved into their brooding box.  Happy Birthday!

**By noon, we have eleven chicks and two more eggs have portals poked out.  I wish I knew how to correctly sex chicks.  The only sure fire way I know to sex chicks is to separate the chicks into two groups.   Within each group, the ones that grow up to be roosters are boys.  The ones that don't are most likely girls.  Among Americanas, I have been told that the stronger the 'stripey-ness' is of their down, the more likely they are to be boys.  If this is true, I may have three boys on team chicky.

Hatching Day (round 3)

I'm happy to announce that starting this morning around 6am, another batch of chicks began hatching.  By noon, six of the eggs had little windows pecked out of them with tiny little bills protruding.

Walk in the woods

 One of my favorite things to do each day, is to take a little time to walk around the pastures and woods and see what new surprises they hold.  All sorts of flowers and critters are coming to life this time of year.  Areas that looked dead just a few weeks ago, are now filled with sprouts and flowers.

These are Trillium.  The two common varieties found in central New York are the Red Trillium and the White Trillium.  On the protected species list, it is a delight to find these thriving in our wood.

 

Aren't they beautiful?

Another surprise was when I was startled by a very loud buzzing that suddenly bounced off me and dropped to my feet.  I first thought that a small hummingbird had bumbled its way into me only to discover that this large critter was actually a queen bumblebee looking for a place to dig her nest.

Do you see her?  She's right in the middle.  She's about the size of my thumb (almost a third larger than most bumblebees I've seen).  Think of all those bumblebees you see during the summer.  Most of them barely last the season with only the queens to hibernate the winter.  These queens emerge come Spring going out to find a new place to make their burrow or start their hive.  I left her alone to do her little bee business, delighted in my discovery.  So keep your eyes open and ready to welcome the little surprises that may come your way!

Do you see her now?