Proud Mama

[journey11]

My broody banty hatched a peep! Yayyyyyyyy!

One little coal black baby so far. Cute as a button! I can't remember the last time I felt such a rush of pure delight. It had been over a week since I had moved her from the woodpile with 5 eggs that were probably viable. I thought she had already been missing over 2 weeks, so by my calculations I figured they were not going to hatch by now. Just when I gave up, there she was! On the coldest day of the winter so far too.

There are 3 eggs still in the nest. One went missing awhile back, which I assume she knew it wasn't good and kicked it out somewhere in the hay. Two have little cracks in one side, but no pipping yet. The last one has no cracks. Do you think those 3 might still hatch by now. The new chick was all dry and fluffy when I found it.

I wanted to get a picture so badly, but she covered it back up and I didn't want to bother her. I lifted her just once so the kids could see the baby for a second and also to check the other 3 eggs. I'll try to get a pic soon as I can!

Ava calls them "Easter Banties" since they are half bantam Golden Seabright and half standard size white Easter Egger.

 

[Nyboy]

Good for you, coolest night have to name Frozen or is it Elsa. How are your turkeys doing?

 

[baymule]

Awww...... a baby chick!!! I can't wait for pics!!

 

[journey11]

I got baby pics! She hopped up when I brought her new food and water. Oh my goodness, how cute she was, making her little clucks for teaching her baby how to eat and drink. This is my first broody hatch and my first born here at home ever. Can you tell I'm excited?

Great idea, @Nyboy ! If it's a girl, she'll be Elsa. A boy, I think I'll call Olaf.

No more progress with the other 3 eggs. If they don't hatch by tomorrow, I guess they are not going to?

 

[ninnymary]

Yay, hope it is a hen.

Mary

 

[digitS']

The Sebright my grandmother gave me when I was 4 did not have lacing. She was just pure gold. I called her Goldie .

She is closest to me in the picture and is the proud mama of the nearly-grown chicks. I was about 7 or 8 years old.

Steve

 

[thistlebloom]

Congratulations Journey! That is so sweet, what a cute baby!
I can't believe you have never hatched a chick, I would have guessed you were an old hand. So that's doubly sweet!
How fun for your kiddos, I'm hoping you have a little hen too.

Banties are such good mamas. My little Dutch bantam Sweetpea is so fiercely protective of her chicks. She's about as big as a minute, but the big hens don't dare even look at her babies or she's after them, taking them apart.

 

[digitS']

I can't believe you have never hatched a chick, I would have guessed you were an old hand.

Wait! Did I miss something?!

This is my first broody hatch and my first born here at home ever. Can you tell I'm excited?

But, aren't you one of those "chicken people" with an incubator? What is it I remember about that??

Steve

 

[journey11]

I'm hoping it will be a hen too. We're going to keep it as a pet, either way (with the exception if it is a roo and should develop a bad attitude, ha.)

This is the first time I've had (kept) roosters long enough to get fertile eggs. That, and these banties are extremely broody! This is the second one that went broody this winter and she was more successful than her sister at hiding the clutch from me. She started with 14 eggs, but I think it was too many for her to keep warm in the cold temps. She had 4 good eggs left when I moved her.

That is a really cool picture, @digitS' . Thanks for sharing it. I haven't seen an all gold Seabright before (I must go Google it now). They must all tend to be broody then.

I did buy an incubator this fall, but haven't used it yet. I've been looking for hatching eggs to buy, trying to decide on a breed, or two... I think I'll hatch out some from the mixed flock of chickens I have now or let one of the big girls brood some. Both roosters are Easter Eggers and all the girls lay various brown shades, so there's a chance I might get pink or olive eggers out of them. I'm also looking for a Bourbon Red tom to breed to my turkey hens.

@Nyboy , the turkeys are doing great. They're getting huge! And they've feathered out so pretty now. I keep meaning to take the camera down to the barn with me and get a pic.

Even DH thought the baby and mama were adorable. But he's getting a little nervous about this chicken math thing. LOL.

 

[digitS']

No, she wasn't supposed to be without the lacing.

Goldie must have dropped a gene or two.

It was an awfully long time ago, @journey11 . Chickens had only recently been domesticated ...

Steve