I have a hen that has been broody for a couple of months. We finally left some eggs under her for her to hatch on August 23rd so they would be due on Saturday. Well, I went out tonight to feed and water everyone and noticed a baby sticking out. We carefully checked underneath her and there were 3 more. We moved her into a dog crate to keep them safe from the other chickens, and in the process of moving everyone we noticed 2 more eggs were pipped. One is cracked quite a bit and the other was a fresh pip, but had a little beak peaking out. She didn't seem to mind being moved at all, she just settled right back down onto the new nest. We put shavings in a rubbermaid tub that has a doorway cut into it so it is just a little bigger than the nest box, but still nice and cozy. She is such a good little mama. Too bad none of the eggs are actually her own. I will post pictures tomorrow after more hatch. There are still 7 eggs left.
Her name is Lilly. When I got my first chickens last year, the lady gave this little one to my daughter. who was 6 at the time. Lilly was only a couple of weeks old then. She is the best little chicken. Not full-size, but not bantam either. She has layed as many as 14 days in a row at times. Her eggs are jumbo sized even though she is rather small. She is the best little chicken. My daughter can pick her up and carry her around whenever she wants. She hasn't even hissed at us when she has the eggs under her. You can look at the eggs and babies and she just lets you do it. So far there are 2 black babies and 2 yellow babies under her. Too bad that I really don't need any more chickens. I was planning on selling these, but they are so cute, hmmm.