Harriet's Dustbathing 101 Class of 2010

My yacky free ranging Harriet was the last chicken I ever thought would go broody, but she did, and I slipped a few Delaware eggs under her- only one Dellie hatched, the other three are Orp/Del crosses, who just happen to be grandchildren of Suede- and little stinkers, all.
Harriet is proving to be a splendid mom, scratching up bugs, making sure they drink, and teaching them about the all important dust bath:

Class begins:

We observe closely"

We give it a try-whoops NOT under Mom!

The proud fathers figure something is up:

And take a stroll down the run to see what's going on in the nursery:

Just dusty, happy babies!

One of whom has become an expert:

And mom is worn out from teaching:

 

Luke and Ultrasuede look like the big old sheriff types, on their way to the show down-

There was one picture today I just could not get to focus- it was too far away and through too much fencing, but the Delaware girls were all at the fence line, staring in at baby Spot, who was gleefully running around with some weird bug in his mouth. They all had their necks strained up, and were looking down their noses at him, like a bunch of old Aunt Tillies looking through a monocle- you could just hear them - " I am quite sure THAT egg was not mine" "Humph, the yellow one may amount to something, but those three dark ones! Never!" They had the funniest combinations of disgust and horror on their faces- not one single girl is going to admit to being the real mother!