Secret hiding place (picture heavy)

[littlegip]

My fingers are so crossed , i just know it's gonna work

 

[Happy Chooks]

jrleader.....any update?

You're killing us in CA. It's 6:30 here, but 9:30 your time.

 

[drumstick diva]

Maybe they just invite people from the area so less chance of cancelling because of distance, weather etc. You would think they would want a sampling from around the country tho. , to show there are urban chicken addicts everywhere.

 

[Darlasmum]

 

[chicks4kids]

He's probably at work already.........

 

[willkatdawson]

 

[jrleader99]

Sorry everyone. It was a late night.

Chickiekeeta - again I want to thank you for going way above and beyond my imagination for us.

OK here we go. I got a call from my wife yesterday when Chickiekeeta was at my house and they were explaining that when they placed the first chick under momma, she seemed OK but when they placed number 2 under her she started getting fiesty and pecked at the chick. This prompted them to set the chicks in a small container (rectangular tupperware type) outside of the cage where momma is with a heat lamp until later in the evening when I got home.

When I finally got home last night (oh by the way, it was killing me not to be there with those little fuzzy butts), I placed the first chick under momma and let her settle in on the chick for about 15-20 minutes. She was quite unsure of how to place her body down since the chick was moving under her and she was only used to having still eggs. (Well that was my interpretation of it, at least

) After that period of time, I figured that I might as well try placing another chick under her. I did this and she seemed OK so I put that last 2 chicks under her (that is a total of 4 RIR chicks for those who aren't counting

). Again she seemed confused by the movement under her and wasn't quite settling her body down. A few times one or two chicks would come out but quickly go back under her backside or wing. After a period of time a couple of chicks came out and got something to eat/drink. While they were out momma did peck at them a couple of times so I quickly turned her head away and put the chicks back under her. This happened only a couple of times in the 2-3 hours I sat with them.

I finally decided that I needed to leave them alone but kept going back out to check on them about every 10-15 minutes just to make sure things were OK and they were.

This morning when I checked on them there were two chicks out eating and drinking. Momma seemed great with them. And the chicks were even getting beak to beak with her and pecking at her neck feather area.

She did seem like she wanted the other two to come out because she was reaching under her belly trying to push them out the back but they were staying put under her.

We took a bunch of pictures last night and some more this morning. I am waiting for my wife and my 10 year old to get them off the camera and send them to me. As soon as I get them I will post them up here.

Thanks everyone for your support, concerns and information.

 

[chicks4kids]

That's fantastic news!!!

 

[artist chick]

Yay!!! I can't wait to see the pictures!

 

[willkatdawson]

I'm so happy for you and your hen! You know she is soooo pleased to have little bodies under her. Does she call them out with her mommy cluck. Next to puppy breath the mommy cluck is the best thing on Earth. What a great end to this roller coaster ride. Can't wait to pictures!