TXchickenchick
Chirping
My poor, sweet, Winter. She is young and a bit inexperienced I suppose. She went broody and since we have a roo (and she's my third broody so far this year) I figured she could have some babies. First, she was very dedicated, getting off the nest every one to two days very briefly then returning. Good start. 
But she seemed to have trouble keeping the eggs under her and there were only 8 eggs! This is a full size barred rock, mind you. I would go out and the eggs would be scattered around her. I would help poke them back, which she seemed to appreciate.
Fast forward to hatch day. Late one evening a baby started hatching. By the next morning it was dead, still in the shell and looking crushed. I quickly removed it and crossed my fingers. She hatched 4 precious balls of fluff over the next two days. She was so happy and obviously loved them. On day two, I woke to a dead, crushed looking chick.
Day three, same thing. So she has two babies. As soon as she started taking the babies out a bit to scratch around I relaxed a bit because I feel they are safer being able to get away from her feet! She wants to be a good momma so bad but she is bumbling, clumsy, and incompetent! She will actually stand on her chicks while trying to call them for treats. She throws them across the yard scratching the snacks around then scolds them like she's asking what they are doing way over there! These two seem to be tough as nails and are surviving their mother's clumsy efforts but goodness I feel sorry for them!
But she seemed to have trouble keeping the eggs under her and there were only 8 eggs! This is a full size barred rock, mind you. I would go out and the eggs would be scattered around her. I would help poke them back, which she seemed to appreciate. Fast forward to hatch day. Late one evening a baby started hatching. By the next morning it was dead, still in the shell and looking crushed. I quickly removed it and crossed my fingers. She hatched 4 precious balls of fluff over the next two days. She was so happy and obviously loved them. On day two, I woke to a dead, crushed looking chick.
Day three, same thing. So she has two babies. As soon as she started taking the babies out a bit to scratch around I relaxed a bit because I feel they are safer being able to get away from her feet! She wants to be a good momma so bad but she is bumbling, clumsy, and incompetent! She will actually stand on her chicks while trying to call them for treats. She throws them across the yard scratching the snacks around then scolds them like she's asking what they are doing way over there! These two seem to be tough as nails and are surviving their mother's clumsy efforts but goodness I feel sorry for them!
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