Our Chickens
In September 2009 Henny Penny Hatching delivered an incubator and 10 eggs to our Kindy. Over the next week the children watched with excitement as the tiny chicks pipped their way out of the shells and dried their feathers in the warmth. Once dry they were carefully transferred into the brooding box where they huddled together under the heat lamp to keep warm. After two weeks they had grown in size and strength and the children were able to handle them gently and nurse them in their arms and laps.
Over the weeks the children were completely entranced by the fluffy chicks and spent many hours observing, discussing, questioning, investigating and smiling. It was such a valuable life experience for them and provided so much opportunity for impromptu lessons about life, life cycles and nature.
The children took such pride in caring for the chicks, keeping them watered and fed and keeping the box clean that we discussed keeping them as pets and observing the entire life cycle - from egg to egg. A collaborative decision was made to keep them and care for them as our pets and as part of the family. Of course we couldn't keep them all so Marie came to collect the roosters which left us with four lovely hens.
In January 2010 the first egg was discovered in the chicken coup. When we cracked it open it amazingly had two yolks and the children described it as a 'twin egg'. In the months following the 4 hens produced an average of 3 eggs per day which the children revelled in collecting and delivering to Kitty in the kitchen who used them in her cooking.
Over time, and as the chickens grew bigger, their small accommodations were no longer enough and they had to fly the coup to a larger home. We are currently planning the construction of a new permanent chicken coup within the playground, to provide the chickens with an enjoyable home as part of the Green Gables family.
Over the weeks the children were completely entranced by the fluffy chicks and spent many hours observing, discussing, questioning, investigating and smiling. It was such a valuable life experience for them and provided so much opportunity for impromptu lessons about life, life cycles and nature.
The children took such pride in caring for the chicks, keeping them watered and fed and keeping the box clean that we discussed keeping them as pets and observing the entire life cycle - from egg to egg. A collaborative decision was made to keep them and care for them as our pets and as part of the family. Of course we couldn't keep them all so Marie came to collect the roosters which left us with four lovely hens.
In January 2010 the first egg was discovered in the chicken coup. When we cracked it open it amazingly had two yolks and the children described it as a 'twin egg'. In the months following the 4 hens produced an average of 3 eggs per day which the children revelled in collecting and delivering to Kitty in the kitchen who used them in her cooking.
Over time, and as the chickens grew bigger, their small accommodations were no longer enough and they had to fly the coup to a larger home. We are currently planning the construction of a new permanent chicken coup within the playground, to provide the chickens with an enjoyable home as part of the Green Gables family.
