Here is Pixie with Button, one of 6 standard sized Orpington chicks of different colours. He's turned out to be a boy but at 4 and a half weeks still cheeps piteously and tries to stuff himself under her for a cuddle when he's cold (I tell him he's a big baby).
Pixie didn't hatch these chicks (you wouldn't fit 6 large eggs under her) but she excitedly adopted them the moment she heard them cheeping and even helped me shove them under her in the dark. Pixie loves being a mother but gets restless at about 5 weeks, starts laying again at 6 weeks, and goes broody once again after laying for 6 weeks!!! She's an Old English Game Bantam and she's the perfect broody as she doesn't mind us handling her babies right from the start.
Here she is at 4 weeks with her brood. We added 3 more babies at 3 weeks as all our blue Orpington chicks sprouted wattles and combs and we really wanted a girl. Pixie didn't even notice. They are mostly inside with a heat lamp to help out, going out for day trips when it's sunny (it's winter where I am).
