hello yes chickens are cool and i love them

That linked video was the cutest goddamn thing. I'm glad this guy loves his pet chicken so much, and she clearly loves him. Don't know many hens that would let you pets them when they're broody, or handle their newly hatched chicks without freaking the heckie out.

 

Yeah usually they try to peck the crap out of you while shrieking like the tiny, modern dinosaurs they are.

 

WELP SPEAKING OF BROODY

My dumb bird went broody behind the stump at the side of the house. I tried moving her and the little collection of unfertilized eggs she hid there to a different spot hoping she'd settle in and brood someplace safe, but no dice. Even without eggs there, she makes a beeline back for the stump. This would be fine if the raccoon weren't still hanging about :/ I'm going to try to raccoon proof the area as best I can then see some people about some hatching eggs.

 

Hatching eggs acquired and placed under angry, growly chicken. Playpen panels not in place but they're right next to her spot and I'm gonna put them up when it cools down a bit. We'll see if this works.

 

An inelegant but hopefully functional solution....

 

Taking the unfertilized eggs this morning.

 

Is she nesting in a hole behind the stump?

 

Yup. There's a little divot in the wall there (boarded up basement window) so it's juuuuust enough space between that and the roots there's a nice little hidden alcove. If it weren't for me now worrying sick about potential raccoon shenanigans it'd actually be a perfect spot. Stays shady all day, so it's about 10 degrees cooler than everything else. Well hidden, cozy. I can see why she picked it, just. Aaaargh if she would have picked a nest box in the coop I'd feel so much better!

 

Hopefully y'all can see the set up and Blue better in this?

 

Candled the eggs! 9 out of 12 are healthy and fertile. Can't wait to see what hatching day brings.

 

WE HAVE BABIES!





Current baby count is at 4, with two more eggs pipped, one of which is zipped, so expecting at least 6 by tonight.

 

Little balls of feathery fluff how cute!

 

5th baby is out of the egg and confirmed a 7th has pipped!

 

babies

 

i didn't know chicks came in different colors O.O they look like kittens with beaks i love them

 

Yup, lots of different colors! Same as the chickens they eventually grow into!

6th baby hatched and I totally missed the zip on that one. Looks like there's an 8th pipper though!

Kids are smitten.

 

What a good broody lady. Hatching all the babies.

 

so many precious fluffballs

 

do they do the thing where they try to eat your teeth?