New chick

[Smart Red]

One of my hens, "Thing 2", had been setting on five eggs. Mom is one of two that hatched out the spring of 2014. Dad is probably the hatchling of mom -- not necessarily a brother. Of the five eggs, only one hatched. Just three days ago I became new grand-mom to a cute, fluffy, black puffball. Yesterday, mom gave up on the remaining egg and has focused all her attention on her little one.

I've kept them in the coop these past days because it's been a tad cool for the baby, but the big relatives aren't happy about being locked out, so I suppose I'll let Mom do the care-taking and hope for the best.

 

[canesisters]

I had a sneaky old hen start setting in a corner of the coop while I was on vaca. Like yours, she was sitting on a bunch but only one hatched. I put up a hoop of chicken wire to keep them separate for a week, but now Mom & chick are out with the rest of the flock - and the rest of the flock are giving Mom a WIDE BERTH. Mama hens can be vicious

eta: Is she an Australorp? My hen is a Marans/lorp.

 

[so lucky]

I bet Mom will defend her baby just fine.

 

[Nyboy]

That is a very cute chick

 

[thistlebloom]

When my tiny Dutch bantam has chicks she is a holy terror, and none of the big hens dare to even look at one of her babies without her flying amok all over their face. Everybody tiptoes around the new ones and gives her a wide berth.
That's a cutie. I hope it's a hen for you.

 

[Smart Red]

Today I left the coop door open so the girls could get back inside to lay. I observed the rooster pecking at and harassing her as if she were one of the new girls rather than his for over a year. He chased her out of the coop and had all apparent intentions of keeping her out. The baby was inside alone. I was worried about what might happen if I left.

I decided to move mom and chick into the green house. While it will be just as cold overnight, it will be warmer during the day. There's plenty of grass, feed, and water in there for the two birds.

"Thing Two" looks like an Australorp -- that would be Dad with his sire (Grand-dad) at half Brahama/ half Australorp and an Australorp mom. Thing Two's genetic mom was partly Australorp -- I have no idea who was her genetic mother -- and her brood hen was a Moran. Thing two has no feathers on her feet, but has a rose comb. Baby is just fluffy black right now.