I had just pulled into Sonic Drive In and ordered when I received a frantic call from my daughter at home. Breathlessly she proceeded to tell me that we had finally hatched 5 chicks in the incubator out in our garage – an experiment my husband and the kids had attempted unsuccessfully until now. The only break in her eyewitness account was to abruptly pause and ask me what to do. Stunned I said I had no idea except that I had heard not to remove the chicks from the incubator until they were completely dry, 4-6 hours after birth. My husband was on call but I told her to send him a text and see if he’d respond with any suggestions. Then I noticed the carhop patiently waiting at my car window with our order. I mouthed an apology and she signaled ‘no worries.’ Then I interrupted my daughter by telling her I’d call her back as soon as I had settled up. Once I was off the phone the carhop proceeded to tell me just what to do because her science class had recently hatched chicks! I laughed and thought to myself . . . only in a small town would a ‘chick’ know about hatching chicks!

TLBCo.’s “War Room” is perfect shelter for new chicks.

A proud footnote: the kids handled the situation beautifully, without my expertise (haha)! When I returned home they were proudly hovering over their chicks, housed in a large square box complete with wood shavings, heat lamp, and food and water – in the appropriate dispensers, no less! – readily on hand in our barn from our initial entry into the chicken business several years ago!!