I bought 7 chicks from a lady at a sale in Wetaskawin. She was given the eggs and was not sure what the chicks would be, but she did say they were out of blue eggs, which means the hens were Americaunas most likely. The cross was with a Polish rooster, and one or both were Bantams. The chicks did well, but two were lost to predators early on. 4 hens and rooster remained and today there are only the three hens and the rooster. It is my suspicion that the ravens got the last hen.
One of the hens made a nest outside the farm gate and hatched 15 babies. I brought them in when they were a day old for security, and two have gone missing. I know one wandered away too far and likely got cold and succumbed, but the other perhaps the cats got, though the mother hen is a fierce protector. She will run back for her chirping babies who emit a particular call when they are lost and she will attack even the big dogs to keep them at bay. She is fearless and one of the best foragers on the farm. I am grateful for her babies, brightly coloured little ones, some yellow, some white, some black and some blue, and one with chipmunk stripes. The babies are already impossible to catch..well, almost. Today one got left behind and I was fortunate enough to snag him and get a picture in. I look forward to the babies growing up and continuing in their mother's footsteps. She is a great little layer, too, with almost an egg a day. Hopefully at least half the chicks will be girls and lay eggs too. I wonder if any will lay blue eggs? I am not sure what the genetics will determine in that regard. I love those little chicks...so cute!
One of the hens made a nest outside the farm gate and hatched 15 babies. I brought them in when they were a day old for security, and two have gone missing. I know one wandered away too far and likely got cold and succumbed, but the other perhaps the cats got, though the mother hen is a fierce protector. She will run back for her chirping babies who emit a particular call when they are lost and she will attack even the big dogs to keep them at bay. She is fearless and one of the best foragers on the farm. I am grateful for her babies, brightly coloured little ones, some yellow, some white, some black and some blue, and one with chipmunk stripes. The babies are already impossible to catch..well, almost. Today one got left behind and I was fortunate enough to snag him and get a picture in. I look forward to the babies growing up and continuing in their mother's footsteps. She is a great little layer, too, with almost an egg a day. Hopefully at least half the chicks will be girls and lay eggs too. I wonder if any will lay blue eggs? I am not sure what the genetics will determine in that regard. I love those little chicks...so cute!
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