Of 24 little chickens that is. These baby birds are currently nice and warm in their eggs in the incubator at school. If all goes well, they will see the world on the 6th of April.
When I told my good friend Tommy I was expecting, he was nearly in shock (!). I was kind of shocked about him being shocked, but it was funny as well. I like kids, but for now I’m glad when they go home at 3.00 pm. Anyway, we are going to bring new life on the Earth. Don’t you love the spring season?!
It’s nice for the kids at school to see, talk and learn about little chicks being born. So last Monday when I went to work, I noticed a sort of cage in the hall, which you could use to keep yellow furry creatures in, and I asked around who was going to do this. Nobody seemed to know but then I heard from one of my colleagues that the incubator would do it all itself!
With my mum being an expert on this (we used to have little birds of all kinds running around our house), I knew that there are incubators like that – machines which turn the eggs automatically – but that someone still needs to check the temperature and the air humidity for instance. When my boss heard that, she thought it would indeed be best if someone took responsibility for this and I quickly became that person. She even sent an e-mail to all the other teachers saying I would read bedtime stories to the eggs (seriously!).
So now we wait. Three weeks is a very long time if you’re six years old. Luckily I live close to the school, so it’s easy for me to check on them in the weekends. To fill the water up and to tuck them in of course. Watch this space for more pictures soon.
Here they are. Most of them went in on Monday, some of them on Tuesday. That’s why they have the date on their bellies. They also have the letters ‘B’ (from the Dutch for ‘above’) on one side, and the ‘O’ (for ‘under’) on the other side, to make sure they are turned around enough.
Nicely warm in their bed…
Shh, they’re asleep…
13 Comments
Aww cute, don’t forget to play them music and sing to them, maybe they would like the Eagles like their Mummy
Heh, it’s weird when other people call you ‘mummy’…
will you invite us for ‘beschuit met muisjes’ once they’re born?
Heh sure, good idea!
‘Beschuit met kuikens’ is more suitable.
“…it’s easy for me to check on them in the weekends. To fill the water up and to tuck them in…”
The eggs drink water? Something new learnt every day
The kids asked if the water was already for when the chicks would hatch, but it’s to keep the humidity OK.
Hanny!
Congratulations…..
(Initially, I thought you may be yolking!)
That’s such terrific news! You gonna be mummy?!
It’s Easter time too. Perfect. Just perfect.
Best wishes to you, for A Happy Easter, Hanny!
mahesh
Oooh Nooo, Hanny?
You should warned me that I will became granddad OFF 24 !
Dad.
Oh my… I just had to follow that link: “I’m going to be a mummy”… I was even more surprised than when you announced you were to be in Playboy magazine!
But this blog reminds me of the time I had a lesson in school (waaaay back in the day!) on embryonic development in Chicken eggs – and had eggs for tea when I got home… I couldn’t eat a thing!
p.s. I hope they appreciate those bedtime stories – that’s real dedication!
(Grand)Daddy Van Arkel is a STAR!!!
Hey Scary! Good to “see” you!
x
And thanks for that comment Tarquin!