Pipd's Peeps!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Went out with Crashie an hour or two ago to give her some room to stretch her wings and get the girls set up for free-range, and I checked on Marge while I was at it. Margie didn't get up off the nest as soon as she saw me like she had been the past few days, so I hope that means she knows it's lockdown time! I moved the baby monitor right next to her broody pen, so hopefully if any of the babies start to hatch, I should be able to hear them peeping from in the house now!

The next best thing to hatching your own is seeing someone elses baby chicks. Post all you want I will never get tired of looking at them. I had one silkie rooster that loved all the chicks. You would have to watch how he does but mine were devoted dads. Especially when the mother hen would leave them at 6 weeks old. The rooster would take over in their upbringing and watch over them.

Aw, that sounds so sweet! Reuben has been over the moon every day when Marge has come out of her pen for her break, so I know he is really devoted to her. I hope he takes an interest in his sons, if he has any; I need him to show them how to be awesome flock protectors, too! I planned on blocking off the smaller half of the coop for her and her babies for the first few weeks or so anyway because some of the girls in the flock are big meanies! Taking no chances with these babies!!


Edited to add the quote

 

[pattyhen]

I'm glad Crash got to spend some time outside. Does she pay any attention to the chickens? My ducks ignore the chickens and the chickens ignore the ducks. The chickens always think the ducks get better food so when the ducks go into the coop at night the chickens run over and check out all the duck bowls. I'm keeping the ducks seperated in our back yard I'm trying to grow some grass. We are getting ready to have about 6 days of rain so I am not looking forward to all the mud. If we don't grow any grass this summer I'm tempted to put out astro turf.

It seemed like to me that the silkie roosters knew what breed they were and went after the silkie hens. Mine always paired off with a with another silkie and they were like a couple in love. I've never noticed that in the other breeds of chickens I've had just the silkies. Most roosters will go after any hen but the silkies prefered their own breed.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

THERE'S A PIP!!! THERE'S A PIP!!! THERE'S A PIP!!! e

I went out to close the coops for the day and checked on Margie one last time. Everyone was quieted down for the night, except Marge clucking softly every once in a while, and just quieter than her clucks was a little, tiny peep! I think it's an internal pip, not external, but it's beginning!! I'm so excited, I'm shaking!! I'm so glad I decided NOT to lift her up to check the eggs!



By the way, there wasn't any way I would hear that over the baby monitor. It was so quiet, I almost thought I was hearing things!




Edited for emphasis!!

 

[shadow rabbit10]

Yay! So exciting!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Oh my goodness, I hear peeping over the baby monitor now!! How am I supposed to sleep?! e Trying to resist the urge to go out there right now!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Baby is still peeping! I have no idea if it's hatched fully or not--sitting on my hands and not peeking for now! I keep hearing it peep-peep-peep over the monitor, and then there's a gentle, 'cluck-cluck,' from Marge, and baby settles back down. I'm trying to fall asleep so that I can get up before sunrise to check on her and the babies, but it's so hard to sleep right now!!

 

[pattyhen]

Did you get any sleep last night? I am so excited. Please give us an update. With all that loud peeping there might be more then one hatching. Can't wait to see them.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Very little. No babies hatched yet this morning, but definitely a pip!! I did a bad thing and just took a peek and baby is pipped through the shell to the outside world now! Didn't see any more pips, but I didn't look very far because I didn't want to shrinkwrap the one or something by holding Margaret up too long!

Margie is still talking with the baby and soothing it when it gets upset. It's so sweet. I think she's going to be a good mama!

If the baby ever hatches!! Losing my patience, here!

 

[pattyhen]

Have patience. I know it's hard to do.

Marge is doing fine. Pretty soon you will see a little chick peeking out from under her wing. I can't wait either.

Please keep us updated. I'm sitting on the edge of my chair here.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Margie won't let me see (and I don't want to disturb her again ), but I think I hear a second chick peeping now! Maybe a third!! She and the babies go completely silent as soon as I get out there to peek into the broody pen, but I can hear them over the monitor talking to mama! ARGH, BABIES!!!