Chicken eggs incubating at Center Point library

CENTER POINT - The Center Point Public Library soon should be playing host to a number of fuzzy newborn chicks.

This is the fifth year of 'Project Peep,” during which Diane Coberly, the children's librarian, brings in a number of chicken eggs to incubate.

'The first year I bought the eggs off eBay,” Coberly said. 'We've kind of learned as we've gone along.”

Coberly keeps the chickens that hatch at her home 'out in the country.” She said she now has 18 in the flock.

This year, she collected 36 eggs, but discovered earlier this week that 10 were not fertilized, so 26 remain. She said they likely will begin hatching around April 1.

Coberly said 'Project Peep” has created a wealth of educational opportunities.

'We read a lot of chicken stories during three weeks eggs are incubating,” she said. 'Some books are fiction, some are non-fiction that are about how a baby chick develops.”

She also said they can do statistics and discuss the likelihood an egg will hatch, as well as debate the effect the cold might have on fertility.

Coberly said last year, some children were lucky to see a chick hatch during story time. 'We may have the same luck again this year,” she said.

After the chicks hatch, they hang out in the library for four weeks, Coberly said.

'We bring in a nice little feed tub big enough to accommodate them,” she said. 'Kids get to watch them grow and touch them. For some kids, it's their first exposure to an animal.”

Coberly said the library works hard to keep children of all ages in touch with nature.

'We have bunnies that visit here once a month,” she said. 'Last year we also had butterflies that hatched here at the library. It helps with any nature deficit that might be around.”

Last year, patrons were given the chance to 'adopt” the chicks for a fee. The library is planning an expansion, and the money collected will be used for the new children's area. Coberly said a similar fundraiser is likely this year as well.