18 chicks

I think all that are going to hatch have hatched.  A total of 18 little chicks out of the 25 eggs we started with.  Not bad for our first attempt, just over 70%.  Sites I have looked at vary in hatch rate, the best being about 80%.

so here are the babies...

A few more hatched after this photo but they pretty much look just like the rest of these.  right in the middle is Amy the only Americana egg that hatched...she is light brown with dark brown stripes on her back.

Once the incubator is cleaned out Shane wants to start another batch.  I am trying to talk him out of that.  Not sure how we are going to keep multiple batches of babies alive around Romeo.  As it is, I have to take Romeo with me when I leave to go to town to be sure he has no chance of hurting the babies!!!

The 18 chicks will grow fast so I need to get a larger box ready for them.  Oh see the yellow chick with the 1 black spot?  That is one of Queenies 2 babies, our leghorn who lays the white eggs.  Both her chicks are all yellow except one little black spot on their back. 

This was very exciting for all of us and I just hope when the time comes to butcher that things go smoother then with the rabbits.

Ok, it really was fun even though neither boy looks very excited.  Like always it is hard to keep the boys from bugging the little babies.  At least all our animals are well loved!