OEGB hatched quail

[JurassicBawk]

QSo, about 18 days ago my little 1 pound bantam chicken Hawk decided to go broody. She’s 2-6 pounds smaller than everyone else and none of my chicken eggs are fertile, so I put her in her own crate inside the chicken house and gave her some quail eggs to try to hatch. I didn’t know if it would come of anything, since chickens are usually too big for such small eggs. But she’s 1 pound and was very determined. So today I get home and go out to get her off the nest for a stretch and food break, and find an empty egg shell sitting out. So far she has 2 babies, who do not speak chicken and are independent little quail. One more egg looks like it is trying to hatch soon. When she was about 3 days in one of the chickens got in her nest and broke 3 eggs, so I added 2 more then. I don’t know if they will survive or if any more will hatch, but look how ridiculously cute these things are right now with their very good mama. She’s doing a good job of shoving them under her for warmth, so fingers crossed.

 

[JurassicBawk]

So far still just the 2, but one egg has the signs of someone trying to come out. She's being a very good mama, showing them how to eat and making sure they stay warm while still sitting on the other eggs. I've incubated quail a few times and raised a few sets of chickens from 1-2 days old, but this is the first time I've had a broody. I'm hoping to be able to remove the nest box and give them more room to run around in the brooder soon. I'm really appreciative of her being the heat source since my radiant brooder heater is in use for 2 tufted titmouse hatchings I am currently taking care of in my walk-in shower.

 

[ColtHandorf]

She looks the tiniest bit alarmed in the photo with the two little ones, like "get back under here!" But they are very cute.

 

[WVduckchick]

My OEGB hens were the BESTEST mommas!