This thread reminds me of our place. Mrs fatboy has a bunch of chickens, mostly silkies and a few old English game bantams. Anyway, two weeks ago Mrs fatboy had emergency surgery (with a 4 day stay) which left the kids and me to keep the chickens fed (food and water, that's it). But we are in the country so it's not big deal.
So on the day she was released, Mrs fatboy sent me a text asking me to check on the incubator in the basement. Instructions were to check temperature and water level. Well, I didn't even know we actually owned an incubator much less had it set up and with eggs. So, I locate said incubator and guess what there is a chick in there and another one piping. But I have to get over to the hospital so I just left things as is.
So we are in the hospital room, me and Mrs fatboy, waiting for the discharge papers and instructions. I casually mention that there are chicks in the incubator stupidly thinking that this would cheer her up. But this backfired miserably because you see there is a egg turner in the incubator that has to be removed several days before the hatch date. I didn't know this and the poor floor nurse had to finish the paperwork in lightning speed because Mrs fatboy now had to immediately rescue those chicks from the egg turner, which btw moves very slowly.
I learned a lesson that day, not sure it's interesting to repeat but lets just say I'm lucky to be alive.
