Eggs: Part 2 We have baby chicks!

About 25 days after Hannah purchased an incubator we now have baby chicks. They are snuggled up next to each other under the heat lamp.  They are healthy, eating and drinking well.  We are waiting on the turkeys next so STAY TUNED!  This is just another extension of our home education plan. Some may ask, what does raising chicks teach children? 

Raising chicks help the kids realize that they can learn a lot about chickens—and animals in general—through close observation. They also learned about the special needs of eggs/chicks in order to take care of them on a farm. 

Hannah and Jacob began first by telling me what they knew about chickens in general and then were encouraged to think and talk about how eggs hatch into chicks and the kinds of special things that are needed to care for eggs/chicks. We then watched videos and photos of the development of a chick from fertilization to hatching from an egg. They discuss what they observed to help reinforce and broaden what they are learning. Lastly, they learned diligence, as it took them 21 days of turning eggs 3 times per day. It helps them appreciate hard work in the end.  

Calf, Horse and Kid Training

Today was a productive day on the farm.  We had much more activity around the area, as it was opening day of deer season.

Today's wonderful weather again made our jobs easier. My daughter and I worked with a horse trainer first thing this morning.  Next, we worked on on making the water spicket freeze proof we hope :)  We covered it with a plastic barrel and stuffed it with insulation.  Next post, I will expand on what I feel is an invention in the making.

I have been looking at solar panels with Missouri Wind and Solar.  We may have electricity soon to the barn. We have a Richie waterer but there is a leak, but doesn't due us much good without electricity.  We will get the new copper fitting and fix that next week.  

Finally, we worked on putting up more boards on the barn that has seen better days.  If that old barn could talk....My dad said when he was a kid they would jump on yearling calves and have their own rodeo. Well, we don't have rodeos but we are making memories.