Peeping chickens hatch at Northside Library
CHILLICOTHE— Do you know why it is easy for chicks to talk? Because talk is cheep.
This cheeping was recently heard at the Northside branch of the Chillicothe & Ross County Public Library as new chickens enjoy their first few days of life surrounded by books.
These chickens have been in an incubator at the library since February. Patrons would often stop by to see if the eggs had hatched yet. Each day the library would put up a photo of what the chickens in the egg looked like to give a visual of what was happening inside the shells.
Chickens take around 21 days to hatch while in the incubator. The incubator helped hold the eggs while keeping them at the optimal temperature of around 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit. This incubator also helps to rock the eggs gently so that the chick does not get attached to the shell.
On day one of the egg's journey, Sally Bluck from the OSU Extension office explained all of these facts and more to young library patrons. She also taught kids the difference between fertilized eggs and the ones you get at the store.
Bluck is often brought into local schools when they do a chicken hatching project to help teach the children about the lifecycle of a chick. She said she loves being able to teach children, and even adults, about agriculture and nature.
"I love seeing their faces when it all clicks," said Bluck.
Around day 18 of the eggs being in the incubator, the rocker was taken out and the eggs were placed on their sides to prepare for the chickens hatching. The chicken eggs were also candled to see how many were developing. To candle an egg you hold a strong light to the egg which allows you to see the embryo.
The chicks will live the first few days of life at the library but will later be moved, The library's Programming Assistant Kandice Trainer will take them to live on her farm and give them a good life.
Shelby Reeves is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. You can email her at SReeves@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @Shelby_Reeves_
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Peeping chickens hatch at Northside Library
