CHICK CHICK CHICK

WE HAVE A CHICK!!!


Can you see the little foot? And the cracked shell? It is fat and yellow and fluffy and making lots of noise. I heard them peeping about five pm, but not sure if they were in or out of the shell. Then looked through a little hole and saw a little ruffle and eventually a beak, followed by a head. Then it popped back under.

She is a very good mummy. All spread about on the nest with her wings all gathering. I think this is the first, i don't think there areany more yet but I will go and listen again in an hour or so.

ONE DAY TO GO ONE DAY TO GO ONE DAY TO GO

can you tell I am excited. I keep finding a reason to walk past the coop to see if I can hear any peeping.....

Day Nineteen

I have a slight worry that she will get off the eggs today. Nineteen days is the time it takes for a Bantam egg to hatch so I will hope that she just syays on for another two days.

Today is a mad day of work, party plans, band bractice, cake making etc etc and I have not even stuck my nose round that part of the garden, but it is all for the best to leave her to do her thing now.

Tomorrow is my youngest's birthday and I think he secretly hopes for a chick on the day. I do wonder if I got the date wrong and just possibly they might hatch a day early....

Day Eighteen

I confess to having let Hammond out today. I did not turn the eggs or candle them, but I had a quick look for broken ones. Thereweren't any so we are still on track for five babies.
Hammond did poo a LOT and ate and drank a lot again. She also chased the cat away most ferociously. It is lockdown now (for real) as the last three days gets underway - it must be mostly putting on fat and feathers now.

Day Seventeen

No change. Did not check her, or the eggs. Was a cooler day. I put some greens out for her but they were not touched.
We did fins a mouse going into a hole in the wall last night. This in the house - so we know they are very likely around the chickens too. Hope rats don't follow, and pose a threat to the chicks.

Day Sixteen

Wow we are getting close. Today was hammonds first day of lockdown. I did not let her out to poo, eat or drink and as far as I know she did not get out of her own accord. I hope she is still alive in there! She has a sunshade set up as it was again a monsterously hot day. I almost was tempted to hose her hutch but I didn't for fear of making her jump and crack another egg. If any more do crack, waiting another four days in this heat will stink out the whole garden!