Babies Are Here

The chicks started pipping yesterday and most were born in the wee hours of the morning during a terrific storm.  I wish we could have gotten video.

It's still too dark to see what the storm left us, but the chicks weathered power failure just fine.

Aren't they cute? There is nothing more inspiring than birth.

We'll leave them in the hatcher until tomorrow and then move them to the giant brooder box where they'll get their first meal and drink of water.

We had one near fatality the day we moved them to the hatcher! As we transferred eggs from incubator to hatcher, we I missed one. The egg was hidden behind an opaque divider that had shifted to an angle and I never noticed him even as I swung the tray to the ground and laid it against a wall. I left it there for a couple of hours until I went back to check on progress. 

The tray was in my way so I moved it again. This time a little egg (one of the smallest in the batch) fell to the floor, cracking it.

Greg and I were horrified that we had left him. I quickly scooped him up and put him in the hatcher. The shell, though cracked was still intact and the chick inside was moving.

We named him Oopsie and hoped for the best. I am happy to report, Oopsie is alive and well. 

Thank God, Mother Nature is smarter than I am.

Oopsie is the little blond chick on the left. I know because he's right next to his marked shell. Only one other chick had hatched at this point.

If this happens again, I'm going to call him, Oy!


Update: The storm last night was very bad. I think a tornado raked through us. Off to inspect for damage. Wish us luck.

Comments

Unknown said…
It's surprising how we think some things are frail, yet She always makes her little ones are durable.

I really hope things are alright. Those storms can bring a lot of damage.
Linda Leszczuk said…
Keeping my fingers crossed that you suffered no serious damage.

How many chicks do you have?

It's not too late for video if you get a chance. Lots of 'firsts' coming up for the little guys.
Angelina Rain said…
Aww, the chicks are so cute. I’m glad Oopsie is okay.

Hope the storm didn’t leave too much damage.
Sarah Ahiers said…
YAY Chicks! And Yay oopsie!
Boo on the storm. We were supposed to have tornadoes on Sunday, but then nothing passed through.
I hope things aren't too bad for you
Joanne said…
Your blog is just too cute today :)

Hooray for Oopsie, now wouldn't that make a cute children's story/book about surviving challenges!
Maria Zannini said…
Darke: Mother Nature provides because humans are naturally dumb--and clumsy.

Linda: So far, 14 have been born. Hopefully, the rest will catch up today.

Angelina: It's so nice to see those bright little eyes when I go in there. It's like they're happy to see you.

Sarah: We knew the storm was coming, but it was supposed to dissipate strength before it reached us. I don't think the storm got the memo. Lots of limbs on the ground, but so far no holes on any roofs.

Joanne: What a brilliant idea! I wish I had the time to write it.
Kim said…
Yay for cute chicks!

Boo for lousy storms and lousy weather in general. It's been gray and dreary here for days.

I hope there isn't much (if any) damage!
Marianne Arkins said…
Oh man ... is there anything cuter than baby chicks????

Don't forget to crush up your shells and give them to your chickens. :-)

I have that on my brain right now because I just crushed shells for my wildbirds.

Okay, I have to go back and look at the pictures... so cute.
Andrea Coulter said…
Oopsie is so cute! I remember hatching chicks in an incubator in elementary school (it was a Montessori school).

Hope you and yours are okay and that the damage isn't too bad. Thinking of you and hoping for the best!
Unknown said…
Aw, so cute. Glad Oopsie is doing well.

Hope you're safe too and that the damage is minimal.
Jackie said…
I miss having fluffy baby chicks, so glad the "almost" fatality hatched out fine instead!

Cute pictures, nice way to start my afternoon and hope the limbs were the only damage Maria...

We got high winds and nothing else here, we were supposed to have severe thunderstorms but they stayed in Austin.
Mind-numbingly cute. I don't know how you'll get anything done besides watching them!
Maria Zannini said…
Kim: I don't think the damage was too bad. We have a very steep roof, so I was especially worried about losing shingles.

Marianne: I usually put eggshells in the compost, but I think these I'll give back to the hens. Circle of life.

Lynn: How fun! I wish our school had such a program.

Shirley: Oopsie seems none the worse for butterfingers me, so I am relieved.

Jackie: I was wondering how you fared. West of Fort Worth seemed hardest hit, but the winds whipped so hard here we were afraid our next step was to wait in a closet. Tank was smarter than us. He was already there. :)

Barbara: Definitely. We keep checking on them regularly since there are still quite a few still unhatched.
Sherri said…
So cute! What is it about birth and the middle of the night? My in-laws have mini-horses and MIL sleeps in the barn when a baby is due.
Melissa McClone said…
Too cute! Hope the storm damage wasn't bad!
Maria Zannini said…
Sherri: I don't know, but I imagine the still of the night is calmer. --at least it would be if there hadn't been a storm. :)

Melissa: So far, no leaks.
Rula Sinara said…
How adorable! It takes me back to when I chicks and chickens as a kid. Oopsie is way too cute.

Glad to hear the storm didn't do too much damage. Mother nature can be amazing...but also scary.
Mel said…
Wow... I guess we talked to loud, and they woke up. Serious babysitting ahead, but you can do it.
Maria Zannini said…
Rula: It's been a long time since we hatched chicks. Glad they knew what they were doing.

Mel: They heard Princess was looking for them. ;-)
Dru said…
oh no about the storm. I haven't read the comments, but I hope the damages were minimal.

Love, love Oopsie. What do you feed baby chicks?
Ellie Garratt said…
OMG. Why didn't I read this post earlier! They are adorable.

Glad you survived the storm okay.
Maria Zannini said…
Dru: Baby chicks eat what's called 'chick starter'. If they were with their mom, they'd follow her around, pecking and tasting everything on the ground.

Ellie: This house has been full of adorable these past couple of days.

More pictures to come.
Jennifer Shirk said…
Awww...they're so tiny!
Michelle H. said…
Cutest little chicks! It's been so long since I've seen some. We never hatched ours. My father would by the chicks and we would raise them under the heat lamps.