Cheep

Look what Brendan found in our yard this afternoon . . .

We had two hens that were broody and sitting on a batch of eggs, but I've seen both of them out of the coup more and more lately, so I thought they'd given up. Hens do that sometimes.

But I guess not! This little guy (or gal) was in the grass just outside the coup. We checked inside and there was another one that unfortunately didn't make it. But now we're on chick-watch! As they hatch, we'll pull them out and keep them separate from the adults. 

I'm hoping for 3-5. That would be a nice addition to our pet flock.

Such a Softy

I'm not a very responsible chicken farmer. When a hen goes boody (starts sitting on a clutch of eggs), I have a hard time taking them away from her. I need to get better at it, because we just don't need an infinite amout of chickens, and there are better seasons than others to have baby chicks.

This is a bad season. But we have a new addition:

I know, aawww . . . BUT, the nights are getting colder and winter is knocking at the door. I let my hen sit on one egg. It was an agreed upon compromise between the two of us. She wanted 8, I left 1.

Not sure how that was any better than a whole clutch, since I still have to set up a separate area for her with food, water and a heat lamp. She might as well have had 30 chicks. But how can you take away eggs from a face like this?

And she's such a good mommy. And her chicks are so darn cute. Here's another look:

Aaawww. . .

If it was spring, we'd put them in their doggy igloo and fence off a section of the chicken run to keep the other hens away (they're a bit cannibalistic). But it's not spring. So cute, yet such a pain. I've gotta toughen up!