Rosemary is a Mille Fleur d’Uccle chicken. On her hatching day she started pipping the shell around 6:30 am, taking her over 6 hours to break free. She made her entrance on 2/27/2022 at 1:01 pm. Her shell had “shrink wrapped” around her feathers, making it very difficult for her to zip around the circumference of the egg shell.
While she struggled valiantly without assistance, her hatchling brother, a Calico Cochin chicken named Sassafras, pipped and hatched in about 30 minutes and immediately made his way across the incubator to Rosemary. Rosemary entered the world with a piece of the shell stuck to her back and wings. Her feathers eventually dried and the shell fell off of her.
Rosemary never gave up and was determined to overcome the obstacles. Her courage and persistence inspired me to write her story.
February 28, 2022 Rosemary and Sassafras visit each other inside the incubator. They stayed in the incubator for 24 hours after they hatched before being moved into the brooder.
Frequently Asked Questions
FOR EVERYONE:
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Rosemary Chick: Pip, Zip, Hooray! is ideal for children ages 3-8, parents, teachers, caregivers and chicken lovers!
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It’s a heartwarming story about a determined chick who teaches children perseverance, courage, and resilience as she hatches from her egg.
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Dawn Feltrop wrote Rosemary Chick to inspire children to believe in themselves and keep trying, even when things feel difficult. The book was inspired by watching Rosemary struggle to hatch from her egg. Rosemary never gave up trying!
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Yes! The story was inspired by a real chick named Rosemary who showed incredible determination while hatching from her egg inside an incubator.
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Rosemary hatched on February 27, 2022 so she is over 4 years old.
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The book is available online, including on Amazon, through select retailers, and autograph copies through this website.
FOR TEACHERS:
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I do! I love creating free coloring pages and printable activities inspired by my book. These are perfect for extending the fun and learning after story time. You can find them in the Free Resources section of my website.
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Yes! Teachers use it to spark discussions about perseverance, courage, problem-solving, and believing in yourself.
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Themes include perseverance, patience, courage, growth mindset, and overcoming challenges.
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Yes! Rosemary Chick: Pip, Zip, Hooray! supports SEL by helping children recognize effort, resilience, and emotional growth.
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I love visiting schools and libraries! Author visits can include story time, a short talk about how books are made, a listening game and interactive questions with students. If you’re interested in scheduling a visit, please reach out through my contact page.
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Yes! My books are available for classroom libraries, school book fairs, and reading programs. If you’re interested in ordering multiple copies for a class or event, feel free to contact me for more information.
FOR KIDS:
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It takes 21 days.
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Pip: means the chick breaks through the eggshell
Zip: is when the chick pecks around the shell in a circular motion, crating a line of breaks that allows it to eventually push the shell off and emerge. This can take several hours to complete.
Hooray!: is used to express joy and victory
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It uses an egg tooth to peck its way out. The egg tooth is only present to help the chick break from the egg. Within 12 to 24 hours after the chick hatches, the egg tooth will dry and fall off.
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It took Rosemary over 6 hours to hatch and Sassafras hatched in 30 minutes!
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Yes! Rosemary’s best friend is her brother, Sassafras.
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Rosemary Chick is happiest when she bravely tries new things — even if they feel a little scary at first — and celebrates the victories she worked hard to achieve.