Yes, that's right, an identical sister,
except for blonde nails on her center toes. Well that and she's
about a year younger, quieter and has been people shy since she was a
chick. Hatched by Little Black Broody Hen herself, her twin is
already showing the inherent bantam broodiness just two months after
coming of age. For the past two days, she's been setting on her
chosen nest at night and taking only one very short leisure during
morning feed out before quietly clucking her way back to her nest.
Less hurried than Broody hen, maintaining the same calm social stance
instead of becoming distant and fleeting from the flock. She will
displace only one hen's laying spot. I gave her my
normal 2-3 day trial of commitment period while I collected suitable
eggs. Then, with fingers crossed and much needed babying and
attention for a distant and avoiding hen, hopefully she will
transition into motherhood flawlessly and personable.
As for Lil Black Hen's latest hatch, a
flop.
An egg exploded on her clutch early on,
smothering eggs, spreading bacteria and death. This was a new
endeavor with her in the Aframe while broody. She would sneak out in
the quiet morning for her stretch before I was awake; Therefore I did not
get a daily glace for cleanliness of her nest. Although a breath
stopping stench clued me in. I changed and added new bedding, along
with some fresh thyme and chocolate mint to freshen the air.
Late on the day of hatch, I looked over
an unbroken egg in my hand. I feared for the chick inside, dark,
cramped and seemingly alone, waiting to feel the heat retention of
dry feathers. I clucked to the egg and pressed it to my ear. I
thought maybe a single mercy crack would help. I found a small
suitable stick, rethinking my actions at every moment: 'what if I
hurt the chick?', too concerned for it's livelihood I give it a quick
tap. The pressurized sound of that egg POP, immediately followed by
the milky green ooze now covering my hands and splattered on my face
were enough to make me nauseous. Obviously a learning experience I
power-walked to the house, mouth tight in fear of tasting this vile
sludge. Five hand-washes later and I could still smell the wrenching
wreak of death. Either way, half of the clutch rotted into vile,
verdant, liquid, pressurized bomb shells. The horror.
The next morning I opened the back of
the Aframe to find a still damp chick, cast behind her, cold and
limp. “What happened?” I exclaimed in a soft yet high pitched
voice. Broody hen with sadness in her eyes looked back between me
and the chick and gave a low growl. The next day another lifeless
body. Three of the ten survived, my livelihood numbers are
plummeting!
Currently thriving at just about one
month are: A white feather-legged chick with black splashing, a quick
growing all white and a red. The red's baby feathers
are similar to nine roos I adopted just a few days after LBHen's
hatch, seeminly RIRs. She however, would not take to this rambunctious crew of at
least a week older, already scurrying, play-fighting, and tugging at
her eyes and comb while her chicks stood as a new foal. She has
already set them a place on the pecking order, right at the tip of
her beak.
Today I stroked the very top of Broody
Twin's head (if I choose better names I will only be saddened further
by loss) and placed six good sized eggs under her alongside one of
her own. I'll keep the clutch small in case this ends in forgetfullness. Good luck and good ridden because her eggs are too small to
sell, silly bantams.
Fox and Rabbit
Hatching Chicks with Broody Hens
Broody Hen Bathes Her 2 Day Olds
