Signs of Spring

Submitted by dbra on February 9, 2010 - 10:58am.

while we get buried in snow! Our first chick hatched this morning -

I think we need freshness where we can find it!

 

 

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Congratulations DBra

I didn't know you are hatching chicks... that is so cool... I want to learn more about that.

Spring is here...

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Adorable!

I can't think of many things cuter than newly hatched chicks! I love its black and white feathers.

we're waiting...

 for the others. This one popped out early for some reason, but it seems perfectly healthy. Its mommy is an araucana, but it seems to have picked up the daddy traits because its missing the araucana diamond on its back.

I wonder what a partridge cochin/ black astralorp mix would look like (hint, hint)...

its a fascinating process to watch. a hen will go "broody", which means she sits on the nest all day and night, only coming off for maybe 5 minutes a day. The other hens lay their eggs next to her in the nest and she gathers them up under her - and sits.... three weeks - bOOm!

Then the mommy hen keeps the new chick warm, under her wings or her tail. We had two girls go broody this year - they were fighting over the eggs at first but finally settled to share.

 

Did they tile a bathroom...?

Did they tile a bathroom...?

And the rooster... he did nothing special.. right?

Seems chickens and humans are very similar...

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so funny!

 exactly right, Norm! and the hens just peck at and scold the roosters right now.

They know better and they're staying on the first floor....!

At least Evelyn isn't scolding me

But I know better and try to stay on the third floor

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So beautiful dbra

The baby chick is beautiful.  Do you sell the chicks or are you hatching them for your own use?  My brother-in-law has chickens on his place in Oberlin, OH and he buys his chicks.  I'm not sure why he doesn't hatch any baby chicks.  He really loves his chickens and would love to see these photos.  Would you mind if I copied them and email them to him? 

of course -

 please do.

I have three given away (before they've hatched!). We are keeping two. So, we will have two others. The chicken people are sort of loosely organized, so I don't think we'll have trouble finding new homes. If your brother-in-law is interested, please let me know. There's no charge, I do it for the chicken flock!

The boys named the chick "Kevin". Its perfect - regardless of gender. Its named after the bird in the movie "Up!" - one of their favorites - and the bird is a girl. Its all about growing into love and compassion. Great flick!

the cuteness is not stopping!

we are hatched at 85% - only one more to go:

You can see the rest of the flock, perched and admiring the work of these girls. We keep their food and water separate, so the others have no reason to bother them. This little one is freshly hatched - still has egg on its face! definitely a cochin.

Here the hard working girls share a tomato:

dbra, I sent the picture

dbra,

I sent the picture today to my brother-in-law.  I asked him to let me know if he would like one.  His wife recently had surgery for uterine cancer and she is getting chemo therapy at Cleveland Clinic so he comes into Cleveland.  If he wants one, and you still have one to give him, he probably can pick it up when he comes in for the next chemo.  I'm not sure exactly when, but I can let you know once he lets me know.  You can be assured that if you give him one it will get the best of care. 

 

sure thing -

 there's nothing like a cute little chick to cheer one up!

They'll probably need to stay with their mommies for 6 weeks or so, unless he has a set-up. And they must leave in pairs. Birds will die of loneliness if they are single.  And the older birds won't necessarily bond with a little one all alone, in fact they will pick on it, they could kill it. 

Primal selfishness and indifference. Now we know where we get it!