Tag: Hatching Eggs

For The Love of A Chicken

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For the Love of a Chicken

Straight Up… that Title should be For The Love of a Rooster!

Our story starts in East Kemptville, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia and dates from 1982. I was in Grade 11 when My Dad, Victor Hurlburt Sr., decided to incubate some Chicks. Unfortunately on day 13 of the 21 Days of incubation the power went out! Then, on Day 21 the Power Company turned the village power off to do some work! Unfortunately this played havoc with the hatch rates, and only two Chicks, two young Roosters, also known as Cockerels, hatched out! 

Another unfortunate turn of events happened when the two cockerels were just a month or so old, and one of our cows laid on one of the young birds. This left just one, both had sort of imprinted on me, and now alone, the one I called “Chicken George” really attached Himself to me, and I to him! He would jump on my foot, and I’d lift him to my shoulder, and he’d ride around there. He even went as far as to come meet me at the school bus when I’d get home from school! Did I mention I was in Grade 11, and also quite backward, and embarrassed to be greeted each day by a Rooster who thought I was his Mom! Yet, I loved him and kind of secretly thought it was the greatest thing in the world! 

Now, wind the clock, or perhaps move the calendar, ahead to Sept 2020. Over 30 years later, and of course many birds in between, but a new little Chick come into my life! Our lives I should say, and he came with 10 others! Yet, he stood out, especially one day when at just 2-1/2 weeks old (that’s when we got them), he hopped up on my arm when I went to feed and water them! He stood there and looked me in the eye! Then, Denis called him Jack, and I agreed, although I knew in an instant that he reminded me, immediately, of Chicken George The Rooster! 

When Jack jumped up and sat on my arm and looked me in the eye, I knew, and I think he knew too, that He had found his forever home! 

If You’d like to experience what it’s like to Hatch Your Own Eggs, or perhaps raise some Chicks, we may be able to help! Contact us and we’ll help you find some hatching eggs or chicks! We can also help with Hens if you’re so minded to forego the youthful adventures and get cracking sooner! Just give us a call at 902-907-0770.

Hatching Chicks Is A Better Predictor Of Spring Than Groundhogs

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Hatching Mixed Flock Chicks

Today is Groundhog Day, and Shubenacadie Sam and Wiarton Willie predict Canada will have an early Spring while Punxsutawney Phil predicts 6 more weeks of Winter!  

Now, we mean no disrespect to Sam, Willie, or Phil, or any other Groundhog, but here at Briden Farm were taking another approach to determining the beginning of Spring! 

We’re hatching Eggs! We have a mixed flock of Chickens, made up mostly of Lohmanns, Easter Eggers, Sassos (that we call our Brahmas), and Buff Orpingtons. So, today, on Ground Hog Day, we put Hatching Eggs in an incubator and in three Weeks we’ll hopefully have new Baby Chicks!

Now, everyone knows that there’s no better sign of Spring than Baby Chicks! Right? Of course right! So, now we have something to tend, turning the eggs, keeping the hatching temperature and humidity at the right levels, and eagerly waiting as the anticipation builds! Then, when they hatch, about February 23, 2021, we will know that there is no more than three weeks till Spring!

So, while everyone else is waiting to see if Spring comes early, or waiting for six weeks to pass, we’re waiting for Three Weeks! Three Weeks to get Baby Chicks! Then once those Chicks Hatch, there’s no more than three weeks left till Spring! Now that’s why we think Hatching Chicks Is A Better Predictor Of Spring Than Groundhogs! 

 

PS: If You’re looking for Hatching Eggs, or Baby Chicks, please contact us at 902-907-0770