It doesn't feel very springy this week (20 degrees at night!) but two of our three "barn hens" got that broody feeling nonetheless. I didn't expect much, it being so freakin' cold out much of the time, but between them, we have 16 new chicks!!!! Not really needed but sort of cute just the same.
Pearl hatched hers out in the sink:
I keep expecting to find little chick-cicles in the barn in the mornings, but these mamas have managed to keep their broods nice and warm. Wings spread wide, this girl has managed to warm 10 chicks through the long, cold nights. this little yellow guy's out for a breath of cold air; the other 9 are inside those feathers somewhere. Pretty remarkable, I think.
6 comments:
It is remarkable! And cute.
Wow, that is neat. What breeds are your chickens? I've considered getting breeds that are better about going broody then the ones that I have. Then again, I would need a rooster which I don't have at the moment. :)
These two hens are half cornish (!) I don't believe the breed is known at all for broodiness. Go figure! The other half is our mix of egg breeds-- mostly buff rock, austrolorp, Easter eggers and cuckoo marans. They are a few generations removed from the hatchery by now and free(ly) (ar)ranging their own pairings.
It seems to me that the naturally brooded and hatched chicks are broodier than those from the hatcheries. Anyone else have this experience?
I love the picture of the yellow chick next to her Mama! Chickens are just the cutest! It is amazing that she has that many chicks under her feathers!
Very cool. It is definitely spring.
Beautiful MAmas i like it
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