nd culling； this project was turning
out to be the worst！ Then my father said； “Look
here； Julianna。 You can see the embryo。” He held the flashlight and egg out so I could see。
I looked inside and he said； “See the dark spot there？ In the middle？ With all the veins
leading to it？”
“The thing that looks like a bean？”
“That's it！”
Suddenly it felt real。 This egg was alive。 I quickly checked the rest of the group。 There were
little bean babies in all of them！ Surely they had to
live。 Surely they would all make it！
“Dad？ Can I take the incubator inside？ It might get too cold out here at night； don't you
think？”
“I was going to suggest the same thing。 Why don't you prop open the door？ I'll carry it for
you。”
For the next two weeks I was pletely consumed with the growing of chicks。 I labeled the
eggs A； B； C； D； E； and F； but before long they had
names； too： Abby； Bonnie； Clyde； Dexter； Eunice； and Florence。 Every day I weighed them；
candled them； and turned them。 I even thought it might
be good for them to hear some clucking； so for a while I did that； too； but clucking is tiring！ It
was much easier to hum around my quiet little flock； so I
did that； instead。 Soon I was humming without even thinking about it； because when I was
around my eggs； I was happy。
……… Page 32………
I read The Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens cove