Chicks & Hatching:

Broody– A hen that has up and decided she wants to be a mom. She’ll sit on a clutch of eggs and scream like a banshee at anyone who comes within ten feet of her for an undetermined amount of time.

Pip/Pipping- The first hole that a chick pecks in their egg on their big journey to the outside world. A ray of hope and the first sign of much struggle to join the living breathing creatures on the earth.

Zip/Unzip– The act of a hatching chick pecking all the way around her egg from the inside in an attempt to break free

Heat Lamp- The super hot light that you point at your chicks to warm them up

Brooder– The thing that you use to attempt to control and contain baby and adolescent chickens. They’ll quickly foil all your attempts and escape at every chance

Candling– Shining a bright shiny light through an egg to see the wonders inside

Incubator- The hot, moist box that you put your fertilized eggs into so they turn into chicks

Egg Turner- The machine or person that turns the eggs inside the incubator several times a day. This annoying process keeps the developing chick from sticking to the egg shell.