SUPRISE!!!

[old fashioned]

Usually Momma hen comes out to stretch her legs, eat, drink & poop between 9 & 11am everyday. Friday (12th) was the official 21st day of her sitting & when we checked....nothing, we still had eggs. Saturday she didn't come out at all before I left for work @ 12:30. I wondered....hmmmm, is it possible??? I had checked on her a couple of times before I left & didn't see or hear anything (except her looking daggers at me ) This morning I go out to feed the others & check on her & brought her some food & water since she's still on the other side of the garage cause DH won't let me move em for a few more days.
Anyway, as I reach in with the food & water she of course starts her attack of pecking at me only this time with a bit more fervor. I noticed as she moved to get a better position of defense against me there were some tiny feet showing, then 2 (maybe 3) little beaks were looking at me.

WE GOT CHICKIE BABIES!!! :bun

and I don't think she's done hatching yet! They are sooooooo cuuuuuuuute!

I made an emergency run to the feed store this morning cause I didn't want to buy any until I knew we had something to feed. The place that sells 'organic feed' was closed so I ended up at Del's & got non-medicated chick starter & a small waterer to atleast get them thru until I can get to the organic feed store again. I AM SOOOOOO EXCITED!

Ain't that the way of it?????? Just when you're about to throw in the towel & nearly give up SOMETHING really great happens that refuels your hope & determination.

I tried to get a pic & will post more later when she's not so fussy. It's hard to see in the pic, but the little yellow spot between Momma & the feeder is a chick butt

 

[colowyo0809]

Congratulations!

 

[old fashioned]

Thanks.....it's only taken us 2 years of trying to get a hen to go broody. Any other hens we've had have never shown any interest in sitting so we're really jazzed. And the hatching was timed perfectly....as in Friday I got rid of Arnie & Misty the two old meanies who were egg eaters & bullied everyone, even the dog. I understand about pecking order & that the more dominant ones will peck others into submission....that's a given. But these two took it to the extreme and I was afraid they'd possibly kill any chicks. I didn't do the deed I gave them to a lady I work with.

 

[Wannabefree]

AWESOME!! That little blurry chicky butt is SO KYOOOOOOOOT

 

[dragonlaurel]

Yay!!!!!! You finally got a Momma hen.

Now a few other hens will probably decide they should try parenthood.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

YAY! congratulations!!

I didn't have a single broody this year - so I'm totally jealous!!

 

[Marianne]

 

[k0xxx]

Congratulations! New chicks rock!

 

[LovinLife]

I love baby chickies Congrats!

 

[old fashioned]

Thanks everyone...I've been so excited you'd almost think they were my babies not chickens sheesh

Wannabefree.....are ya sayin I'm a lousy photographer????? Actually you're right, me & camera's don't get along

Dragonlaurel....when I couldn't find the little black hen yesterday I began to wonder if she did maybe have a hidden nest somewhere. But so far she hasn't laid any eggs since she's been here (2ish months now?) that I know of. I've only seen her 'go thru the motions' of making her a spot on the ground under the nest box & sitting there for awhile, then leaving....but no egg produced. Besides she can't go broody right now....I don't have another 'nursery' for her so I tell her to 'keep it in your butt' (as if that would work)

We did get them moved today to the chick nursery and Momma & babies were NOT happy about it either. They have since settled down and will be fine. That was a big worry off my mind & now I can relax on that score. We have 8 chicks & so far 2 eggs didn't hatch out of the 10, but we'll give them a couple of more days just in case. Here's some more pics & hopefully better ones.

You can only see 7 of the chicks, 1 must be camera shy.

As you can probably tell, her choice of nesting places was rather inconvenient

In their new home...Here you can only see the one chick, the rest are under Momma