Secret Chick

[StardustChicken]

Tending to my all-adult-female flock this morning when I heard chirping

But the thing is...

This isn't my chicken

 

[BigBlueHen53]

What an amazing surprise! Could she have gotten in by herself, or do you think someone gifted them to you?

 

[2ndTink]

That is a surprise for sure! I wonder where she came from?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Someone must have put her there, along with the egg. That chick is still wet from hatching. Curiouser and curiouser!

 

[StardustChicken]

What an amazing surprise! Could she have gotten in by herself, or do you think someone gifted them to you?

That is a surprise for sure! I wonder where she came from?

Someone must have put her there, along with the egg. That chick is still wet from hatching. Curiouser and curiouser!

Apparently she belongs to the neighbors across the street who has roosters. Judging by the size of the eggshell, it was absolutely layed by this Old English Game Bantam hen. My chickens free-range so she likely flew over the fence and decided to brood in an old bucket inside the coop

 

[2ndTink]

I wonder if she will stay with you or move her baby back to where she came from?

 

[StardustChicken]

I wonder if she will stay with you or move her baby back to where she came from?

It's the time of year when the rat snakes come out to eat eggs and chicks alike. With how tiny the hen is she would likely be on the menu as well. I moved mother & chick into my predator proof poultry pen to prevent that

 

[2ndTink]

It's the time of year when the rat snakes come out to eat eggs and chicks alike. With how tiny the hen is she would likely be on the menu as well. I moved mother & chick into my predator proof poultry pen to prevent that

Oh gosh, darn snakes!

That's good you have her safe. What a cute little family

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It's the time of year when the rat snakes come out to eat eggs and chicks alike. With how tiny the hen is she would likely be on the menu as well. I moved mother & chick into my predator proof poultry pen to prevent that

Mystery solved!

 

[StardustChicken]

The chick all dried out from this morning

Possible fathers include the other partridge OEGB...or the Easter Egger (the angle doesn't really encapsulated the sheer fluffiness of their face that feeds my suspensions). Which might sound ridiculous to some but is indeed possible. I myself having living proof of such a union

This is Margo: her mother was an OEGB, her father a standard Silver Duckwing Phoenix. Despite all those years ago shooing away the rooster whenever I saw him make an attempt, he was surprisingly successful without crushing the mother.

Only time will tell