There is a very specific kind of stillness that settles over the farm in the early hours of the morning. It is the kind of quiet that feels full of expectation, like the world is holding its breath before the sun breaks over the horizon. Last week, that stillness was broken at exactly 3:46 AM. While most of the world was still tucked under warm blankets, we were huddled around the incubator, witnessing the very first miracle of the day.
The first tiny chick of the season made its way into the world during those pre-dawn hours. There is something so humbling about watching a tiny creature use every ounce of its strength to break through a shell that has been its entire world for twenty-one days. It reminds us that growth often requires a struggle, and that the most beautiful beginnings start with a lot of hard work in the dark.
We held onto this news for a little while before sharing it. After the heartbreak of the faulty incubator, we wanted to make sure these new babies were strong and stable first. Now, we are so happy to share that the final hatch has now brought 17 babies in all, including 8 Serama chicks and 1 surprise Silkie from before, plus 8 more that hatched from our own chickens. The Silkie chick was discovered on Mother's Day while checking for pasty butt, which made it a perfect, albeit messy, Mother's Day surprise for Mama. The nursery has been full of soft peeps and steady movement ever since, and we are grateful for each tiny life that made its way into the world.
The Waiting Room of the Farm
Watching an egg pip is a lesson in quiet trust. It is tempting to want to reach in and help, to peel away the shell and make the path easier. However, we have learned through our years here at Faithful Flock Farm that the struggle of hatching is actually what gives the chick the strength it needs to survive. It is a natural process designed by God who knows exactly what each living thing needs to thrive.
We spend a lot of time in this "waiting room" phase. This season of the year is a beautiful reflection of our journey as a farm. We have often talked about how our farm began with a quiet yes, and hatch day feels like a continuation of that same obedience. Every egg in that incubator represents a commitment to the calling God placed on our hearts to provide wholesome, local food for our community.
With the hatch still unfolding, we have been keeping ourselves busy with the steady rhythm of farm chores while taking in all the sounds of the brooder room. The weather has finally turned warm enough for us to enjoy a fruit smoothie on the porch while we listen for the peeps of 17 babies in all, including 8 Seramas, 1 Silkie, and 8 more from our own chickens, settling in. Milo and Panda Bear are just as curious as we are. Milo keeps tilting his head at the sound of the high-pitched peeps. Panda Bear stays close by our feet, acting as a tiny, fluffy guardian for the new arrivals.
Hands-On Care and Stewardship
At Faithful Flock Farm, we believe that stewardship is not just a job; it is a requirement. We prioritize the hands-on care of our animals from the very second they hatch. This isn't a factory or a large-scale commercial operation where chicks are just numbers. Each of these little birds will be handled with love, watched over during their first vulnerable days, and eventually moved to the lush pastures where they can live the life they were intended to live.
This commitment to care is why we do things a little differently here. Whether it is the way we handle our hatchlings or the way we prioritize care over competition, every decision is filtered through our faith. We believe that we have been entrusted with these lives, and that is a responsibility we take very seriously.
Seeing that first chick stand up on shaky legs is a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. It makes the late nights and the early 3:46 AM wake-up calls completely worth it. There is an incredible amount of joy in seeing the results of our first hatch of the season, and it fills us with hope for the months to come.
The Incubator Struggle
This hatch has also come with some disappointment, and we want to share that honestly. A bad incubator caused us to lose many eggs, which was hard to watch after so much waiting and care. Now that the final 6 eggs have had their full chance, we can say this hatch is officially complete with 17 babies in all, including 8 Seramas, 1 Silkie, and 8 from our own stock. We are deeply grateful for each little life that made it, even after the incubator issues made this season harder than expected.
Farm life often holds joy and loss close together. We do what we can with the tools and knowledge we have, then we place the rest in God's hands. We do not always get the outcome we hoped for, but we keep showing up, learning, and trusting Him in the middle of it.
The Steady Rhythm of Obedience
Farm life has taught us that faithfulness isn't always flashy. Most days, it looks like carrying water, cleaning brooders, and checking temperatures. It looks like consistency in the small things. But in seasons like this, the fruit of that consistency is visible in the form of a tiny, wet chick finally breaking free and taking its first breath of air.
Every egg we set in the incubator is an act of faith. We do our part by providing the right environment and the best possible care, but we know that the life inside is a gift from God. We cannot make a chick grow, and we cannot make it hatch. We can only provide the space and the stewardship, trusting the process that was set in motion long before we ever arrived on this land.
As the sun continues to rise and the farm fully wakes up, we are reminded of the beautiful diversity of our flock. These new chicks will eventually grow to lay the colorful eggs that our customers love so much. Whether they will be the ones laying deep brown eggs or those famous green ones, we are just grateful to be part of their story from day one.
A Community Built on Trust
We love being able to share these moments with you because we view our customers as more than just people who buy eggs. You are our neighbors and our friends. When you choose to support a local farm, you are supporting this cycle of life and the values of stewardship that we hold dear. You are choosing food that was raised with hands-on attention and a whole lot of prayer.
If you are ever in the neighborhood, we would love to have you stop by and say hello. There is nothing quite like seeing the "miracle" of the farm in person. While the new babies aren't ready for visitors quite yet, the rest of the flock is enjoying the spring weather, and the farm is buzzing with activity.
As we look at this completed hatch, we are reminded of the promise of new beginnings. There is always something new to learn, always a new way to see God's hand at work in the natural world. We feel so blessed to call this our work and our life.
Thank you for being part of the Faithful Flock Farm family. Your support allows us to continue this mission of raising healthy, happy birds and providing the freshest eggs for your tables. We are thankful to share that this hatch is now officially complete with 17 babies in all, including 8 Serama chicks and 1 surprise Silkie, plus 8 more from our own chickens (The Next Generation). The final 6 eggs did not hatch, but we are truly grateful for the lives that did make it. For now, we are going to finish our fruit smoothies and get back to the nursery to care for these little ones.
If you have any questions about our hatching process or if you want to know more about how we raise our pasture-raised hens, please feel free to reach out. We love talking about our birds and sharing the joy of the farm with all of you. 🤍
"For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything." ( Hebrews 3:4)
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