Hunter's first eggs hatch!

Hunter's chicken eggs finally hatched. Out of 18 eggs placed in the incubator, he got 10 healthy chicks. I suspect the relatively low hatch rate was that the eggs sat out in the coop for a couple of weeks before collecting them to put in the incubator.  Nevertheless, he is very excited.

the first two chicks hatched!

He already has plans to sell the eggs next spring to make some spending money. We are in the process of building his own coop so that his chickens can be kept separate from the rest of the little sprouts flock. Its great to see him so excited about starting his own farm venture at the young age of 8.

One of the important principles of little sprouts is teaching the next generation the joys of farm life. We are actively seeking ways to turn our children's hearts and focus to the proper production of food among the tranquil but labored life of farming. It would be a real shame to produce a profitable farm and effective testament to proper farming techniques, but in the process loose the next generation to the hustle and bustle of city life. If parents believe in a lifestyle, as we do here, it is those parents duty to pass along the opportunity and excitement of that lifestyle to their children.

Thus far we have implemented 3 important rules towards that goal:

1. don't do anything that necessarily excludes children's participation.

2. allow and encourage children to find and own their separate ventures to make money off the farm

3. pay children a fair wage for labor they do, if it is labor that we would have to pay someone else to do if the kids weren't available.