Chicks join the class

Nine chicks have hatched in an incubator at Chuter Ede Primary School, Balderton, to the excitement of the children.

The chicks were provided to the school’s foundation year by the Happy Chick Company and hatched just two days after they arrived.

Foundation teacher Miss Louise Mackinder said: “We have chicks every year but this year was particularly nice as they began to hatch in the day while the children were at school as opposed to overnight, which usually happens.”

The process enables pupils to learn about the life cycle of hens.

They also take responsibility for cleaning the brooder and replenishing the food and water.

Thomas Knock, 5, said: “It is very exciting and we have learnt a lot from having them here.”

The school keep the chicks for two weeks after which they are returned to the Happy Chick Company.

Miss Mackinder said: “It is an invaluable experience for the children learning about the life cycle, the different colours of each gender and things such as the egg tooth that helps them to hatch.

“Now they are hatched everyone is very excited to hold them.”

It also ties in with the Chicken Licken story the pupils have been reading.