This is Thelma and Louise - my first ever broody hens. Thelma, the white hen, was the first to go broody at the end of September and I decided to wait her out, after all, it was fall and too cold for chicks. She sat and sat for all three weeks, never giving up and I started to feel sorry for her. Then, Louise (blue hen) went broody. So they wore me down! I gave mixed-bred eggs to both of them in mid-October and moved them to the old brooder box for some peace. They each brooded in their own nest and seemed content.
Louise's five eggs hatched first in early November, every single one! I'd forgotten when I gave them eggs, so I'd been peeking under them every day of that week. I was so thrilled to get chicks! I couldn't believe it worked - no electricity! After all 5 hatched, Louise and all 5 chicks moved in the nest with Thelma, whose eggs were hatching. When I saw them, Thelma had a wing thrown over Louise's back. It looked like Louise had gotten a little panicked at this whole motherhood thing and Thelma was comforting her. It reminded me of when I left the hospital with my first baby and I couldn't believe they were just letting me walk out of there with a baby!
Thelma and Louise co-parented all the hatchlings from that moment on. Thelma was the self-appointed food finder and would vigorously kick up tons of shavings and call attention to every piece of cracked corn for the babies. Louise was the designated heat lamp and would keep the babies nice and toasty. At night they all piled into Thelma's nest. They were great mamas and didn't lose a single baby even though it was moving into winter. The next time they went broody, they sat on the same nest and co-parented
again! I just love broody hens!
