Ella, a retired laying hen, has decided to become a midwife.
Every day, when her best friend Miracle is ready to lay, Ella will lead Mir into the nesting box. I don't know how or why, but she just does. It's a really close relationship between the two of them. Ella will wait for Mir and sometimes even nest for her if she takes too long. If Mir goes toward the door, Ella will rush out and lead her down the ramp, pushing all other chickens aside. If Mir turns to go back up the ramp, Ella rushes in front and leads her into the nesting box. If Mir seems hot, Ella will show her to the water. Once the egg is laid, everything goes back to normal. This happens every single day.
Here is how things went today. Ella walked up the ramp, with Mir trailing closely behind. I decided to watch today, as I had nothing better to do, so I sat down in the coop. I watched Ella and Mir nesting, then Ella walked out and showed Mir the water. Then back to the nest. Mir got up and walked around a bit, and Ella was waiting in the nest. One of the other birds came in, and Ella chased her away as if she was guarding her territory. They both returned to the nest, where Ella stood and Mir nested. Finally, the egg was laid, and after an inspection from Ella, they both left the coop and went about their business.
Ella is past laying prime, and lays one egg every couple of weeks. Mir will not lay without her "MidHen" by her side. I don't know why this happens, but I find it incredible the bond between the two hens.
"Ella, where are you?"
Every day, when her best friend Miracle is ready to lay, Ella will lead Mir into the nesting box. I don't know how or why, but she just does. It's a really close relationship between the two of them. Ella will wait for Mir and sometimes even nest for her if she takes too long. If Mir goes toward the door, Ella will rush out and lead her down the ramp, pushing all other chickens aside. If Mir turns to go back up the ramp, Ella rushes in front and leads her into the nesting box. If Mir seems hot, Ella will show her to the water. Once the egg is laid, everything goes back to normal. This happens every single day.
Here is how things went today. Ella walked up the ramp, with Mir trailing closely behind. I decided to watch today, as I had nothing better to do, so I sat down in the coop. I watched Ella and Mir nesting, then Ella walked out and showed Mir the water. Then back to the nest. Mir got up and walked around a bit, and Ella was waiting in the nest. One of the other birds came in, and Ella chased her away as if she was guarding her territory. They both returned to the nest, where Ella stood and Mir nested. Finally, the egg was laid, and after an inspection from Ella, they both left the coop and went about their business.
Ella is past laying prime, and lays one egg every couple of weeks. Mir will not lay without her "MidHen" by her side. I don't know why this happens, but I find it incredible the bond between the two hens.
"Ella, where are you?"
