Should I let her?

[LateBirdFarms]

Haha I would’ve done the same if I could fit in my coop if you’re in southern Ontario you’ve got some sleet coming your way in just a bit because it’s hitting me now. Maybe you should just bring your sleeping bag out there... post pics when you can! Broody and baby pics are the best there are.

I could bless my DH for building the coop big enough for me to move around in right now. I didn't quite understand why he was so adamant about it when he planned the build for me, but I've certainly learned to appreciate it during the crazy Ontario fall/winter/spring storms! Luckily, I'm just far enough North that I've got until about 5am before the real nasty weather starts, and by then my girls will have warmed the coop up a good 5c! Such efficient little space heaters! I could always tuck my darling little cochin Hamburg pullet into my sweater if things get desperate!

 

[LateBirdFarms]

OooooOoo! It's not black! I don't know what colour it is exactly, but it's much much lighter, and possibly has a stripe but I can't say for sure...and its already got amazing little cheeks! I wasn't prepared to have it peek at me!

 

[Docdetective]

Just found this thread and I can’t wait to see the pics!

 

[LateBirdFarms]

Proud new mama Bug and her two new fluffy babes! She's happily purring and clucking at the eggs that are in the middle of zipping! I could see two of the remaining 6 when she lifted her wing and practically stood on her head to encourage them! What an amazing experience!

Baby #1, first outta the egg, in proper lighting a lovely grayish brown with a darker head and back

Annnnd baby #2! Noticable smaller than chick #1!

 

[LizzzyJo]

Ahhh! Too cute and fluffy! Two more beautiful lives in the world

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

You are going to LOVE watching mama hen with her chicks. Exactly as nature intended.

 

[LateBirdFarms]

Number #3 is a little blonde with a stripe! Not quite fluffed yet. Mama seems pretty happy!

Out of the 5 left, one more has pipped, and one is in the process of zipping! I can't get over how tender and gentle she's being. Watching her lift herself up to nudge softly at the eggs while they chirp at her through the shell and she clucks back makes my heart hurt

As it turns out, this process has been no less exciting than when I was 10! The magic is still pretty real!

 

[LateBirdFarms]

 

[CluckerFamily]

Congratulations to you and Bug!!

 

[LateBirdFarms]

One more dark and one more light chick! By last night, there were 3 remaining eggs, all brown shelled, two dark, one lighter that I had hoped might be marans, barnies or brahmas. All 3 had shown movement at day 18, so I wasn't too concerned... but when I had come out this morning, Bug had pushed the two darker eggs out of the nest and they were stone cold, but she's still sitting tight on the lighter 3rd. Candling showed HUGE aircells and the unmoving chicks crammed into the pointy end of the egg. Those two started to look pretty porous at the last candling, so I'm not totally shocked, and I'm not sure what to expect from the last egg, but the 5 chicks she did hatch out of the blue eggs are adorable and snuggled into mama's fluff, so I'm still pretty pleased with the outcome so far!