Alright, buckle up, because I’m about to spill the beans on my pure psychology Wyandotte hatching experiment!
So, it all started when I got the bright idea to try and hatch only Wyandotte chicks based on pure psychology – no fancy incubators, no thermometers, just vibes. Yeah, I know, sounds crazy, right? But hear me out. I’d been reading up on how chickens react to different stimuli, and I thought, “What if I could influence the hatching process just by creating the right environment?”
First things first, I needed eggs. Good quality Wyandotte eggs. I sourced them from a local breeder who I trusted, making sure they were all relatively the same size and shape. No weird pointy ones, you know? I got about a dozen. Then, I grabbed an old wooden box – nothing fancy, just something I had lying around in the shed.
Next, the environment. This is where the “pure psychology” part comes in. I lined the box with soft hay and some feathers from my existing hens. I played calming nature sounds – you know, birds chirping, gentle streams – on repeat, 24/7. I even hung up some pictures of happy, healthy Wyandotte hens. I figured, if they could “see” what they were supposed to become, maybe it would help! Don’t judge me; I was committed to the bit.
Every day, multiple times a day, I’d talk to the eggs. Yep, you heard that right. I’d whisper encouraging words, telling them how strong and beautiful they were going to be. I even sang them a few lullabies! I also made sure the box was in a quiet, dimly lit room, away from any loud noises or sudden movements. Consistency was key, or so I thought.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. I noticed some of the eggs were slightly warmer than others. So, like a total mad scientist, I started rotating them more frequently, trying to distribute the “good vibes” evenly. I also tried different essential oils – lavender, chamomile – diffusing them near the box, hoping to create a relaxing atmosphere. Probably did nothing, but it made me feel relaxed!
The anticipation was killing me! Day 21 rolled around, and… nothing. Day 22… still nothing. I was starting to think my whole “pure psychology” thing was a bust. But then, on day 23, I heard a faint peep! I carefully opened the box, and there it was – one tiny, fluffy Wyandotte chick, just starting to crack its way out of the shell.
Over the next few days, two more chicks hatched. Three out of twelve. Not exactly a resounding success rate, but hey, it was something! They were all healthy and seemed pretty chill, probably from all the nature sounds and lullabies.
So, what did I learn? Well, first off, chickens probably don’t give a cluck about my pep talks or essential oils. But, I did learn that creating a stable, stress-free environment can potentially help with hatching. Maybe not as drastically as a proper incubator, but every little bit counts.
Would I do it again? Probably not. I’m sticking with my incubator from now on. But hey, it was a fun experiment, and those three little Wyandottes are a constant reminder that even the craziest ideas can sometimes hatch… even if it’s just a little bit.
- The Goal: Attempt to hatch Wyandotte chicks using only psychological techniques.
- The Method: Creating a calming environment, talking to the eggs, and providing positive stimuli.
- The Result: Three chicks hatched out of twelve eggs.
- The Conclusion: Pure psychology alone isn’t enough, but a stress-free environment might help.
Final Thoughts
It was a wild ride, and honestly, a bit of a time suck. But hey, at least I have a good story to tell, right? And three adorable Wyandottes to show for it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go refill their water. They probably need a good dose of positive affirmations too. Just kidding… mostly.
