Are You Ready to Hatch an Unusual Chicken?: List 1

by Kelly Jones
In this sequel to Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer, the new owner of Redwood Farm, twelve-year-old Sophia Mariposa Brown, awards certificates to her special flock, but she still must pass an official inspection.

This list covers pages 1–79 of the 2019 Yearling edition.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1, List 2, List 3
30 words 166 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. established
    settled securely and unconditionally
    I’d wait until you have all the Redwood Farm chickens established before breeding new varieties.
  2. submit
    refer for judgment or consideration
    The Unusual Poultry Committee keeps a close eye on new owners of unusual poultry farms, and they prefer to have a breeding plan submitted before any new crosses are made.
  3. preliminary
    preceding or in preparation for something more important
    I’m attaching my preliminary observation form as a starting point, but feel free to record your research in any format you choose, and to go above and beyond these questions.
  4. vocalize
    utter speech sounds
    Typical vocalizations (if any): They bawk like my other chickens. Louder than Chameleon, but quieter than Henrietta.
  5. apprentice
    someone who works for an expert to learn a trade
    It’s not your fault you died before I could meet you and be your apprentice, just like it’s not Great-Uncle Jim’s fault that he died before he could teach me anything about chickens.
  6. certification
    an official document attesting some fact or credential
    PS Forgive me for asking, but you did complete your apprenticeship with Agnes, right? And earn your Unusual Poultry certification from the Committee?
  7. vanquish
    defeat in a competition, race, or conflict
    Chicken Valhalla (where brave chickens go to sing songs of their slug- vanquishing days and eat all the stale hot dog buns they ever wanted)
  8. bramble
    any of various rough thorny shrubs or vines
    Gregory says I’ll need my gloves for the blackberry brambles and the poison oak that are filling up the chicken runs, and Mom says it will be hard work, especially when it’s so hot out.
  9. incubate
    keep (eggs) warm until ready to hatch
    Gregory and I made a list of what I’ll need to incubate eggs and hatch chicks:
    1. An incubator

    2. Sterilizing solution for the incubator

    3. A thermometer

    4. A hygrometer (to measure humidity)

    5. A chick brooder, for after the chicks hatch
  10. grit
    small coarse bits of stone, sand, or gravel
    Chick grit (very, very small rocks—even chicks eat rocks!)
  11. roost
    a place where birds or bats take shelter and rest
    “Sterilizer, chick feeder, chick waterer, and chick roosts,” Gregory told me.
  12. fertile
    bearing in abundance, especially offspring
    This quiz must be completed and submitted to Redwood Farm before ordering fertile hatching eggs.
  13. effectively
    in a manner producing an intended result
    You must answer all
 questions in order to score the quiz effectively.
  14. suitable
    meant or adapted for an occasion or use
    Do you have suitable homes ready for any and all chicks you hatch?
  15. rectify
    make right or correct
    Regretfully, Redwood Farm Supply has encountered an error that cannot be rectified, and we are unable to ship fertile hatching eggs to this customer.
  16. herpetologist
    a scientist who studies reptiles and amphibians
    Exceptional Herpetologist (Stay Away from Unusual Chickens)
    Though your devotion to your boa constrictor is admirable, the unusual chickens from Redwood Farm Supply would not be a safe or suitable meal for it.
  17. appropriate
    suitable for a particular person, place, or situation
    Clean the plastic liner of your incubator with an appropriate disinfectant.
  18. maintain
    keep in a certain state, position, or activity
    Fill any channels with water to maintain humidity.
  19. thermostat
    a regulator for automatically regulating temperature
    Adjust the thermostat using the dial on the lid to increase or decrease the temperature, or according to your incubator’s instruction manual.
  20. humidity
    wetness in the atmosphere
    Check the incubator’s hygrometer. If the humidity isn’t between 45% and 55%, add or remove water from the channels. Do not put the eggs inside until the humidity is correct.
  21. accordingly
    in agreement with
    If it does not read 99.5 degrees F, adjust the thermostat dial accordingly.
  22. channel
    a long narrow furrow cut by a natural process or by a tool
    Check the humidity inside the incubator. If it is close to or below 45%, add more water to the channels. If it is close to or above 55%, mop up some water or tape some plastic wrap partway over the channels.
  23. thrive
    grow vigorously
    It is extremely rare for all eggs to hatch and for all chicks to survive hatching. As a responsible poultry keeper, you will provide the best possible chance for your eggs to hatch and your chicks to thrive by following these instructions.
  24. frustrated
    disappointingly unsuccessful
    It was pretty tough to get the temperature just right, with only a dial that says “Increase” and “Decrease.” But I was patient and tried not to get too frustrated.
  25. antsy
    nervous and unable to relax
    Once the blackberry crisp was baking in the oven, we waited and waited and I got antsy, and finally Dad put some music on.
  26. embryo
    an animal organism in the early stages of growth
    I explained about the incubator and my new eggs, and how I have to keep them the same temperature that the mom hen’s fluffy feathers would keep them, and I have to turn them the way she would, so the chick embryos develop properly in their eggs.
  27. plumage
    the covering of feathers on a bird
    Blue Copper Marans
    Standard height, blue plumage with copper hackles, lightly feathered legs and feet. Red evenly serrated single comb, red earlobes.
  28. serrated
    notched like a saw with teeth pointing toward the apex
    Blue Copper Marans
    Standard height, blue plumage with copper hackles, lightly feathered legs and feet. Red evenly serrated single comb, red earlobes.
  29. frequent
    coming at short intervals or habitually
    Large dark brown eggs, frequent layer.
  30. discrimination
    unfair treatment of a person or group based on prejudice
    Then a white lady with purple spiky hair stopped walking and yelled at the guy that discrimination and harassment are not tolerated on campus and that she was going to report him.
Created on Sat Mar 18 13:47:18 EDT 2023 (updated Wed Apr 05 16:29:43 EDT 2023)

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