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Ahhh Ivie. You crack me up. To be a newlywed again.
I think the little bald spots would be ears. I'm thinking...Oh, the chicks under the hen are hatching. I think there will only be two, if I remember my candling right. I left 4 eggs under her, but thought only 2 were viable... I think, maybe it was 3. Anyway, I have one chick out, and one pipped. The chick that is out looks fine, but has little bald spots on each side of his head.
I have always separated hens with their chicks from the rest of the flock. Anyone ever leave them with the flock? Successful, or not? I'd feel so bad if the other chickens killed the chicks, but haven't decided what I am going to do with them. (Right now she is in a dog kennel, but the slats are too big for chicks.) I might just have to throw together something tomorrow for her.
Have you seen other hens or roosters approach your broody? She is a force to be reckoned with I'm certain or usually. Most hens no matter the pecking order will back down from a broody who is puffed out and growling. I have one bantam silkie that will make a full sized Wyandotte--and a bossy one at that-- and a full sized NH rooster take a step back when she has chicks. There is such a thing as a mother not being very good though, too, and I guess I'd watch the first few interactions with the flock. My Silkie had her own Broody hutch to escape to with her chicks. She loved the privacy while setting on the eggs and for sleeping with her chicks at night after free ranging. I would say the scenario was set well for me because all the rest of the flock were away ranging the yard all day. And Dixie was able to keep her chicks pretty well isolated from the rest during the day. Ranging in the woods away from the rest. Teaching them to graze and eat bugs. It was fun to watch her in action being a Momma. I have actually seen photos of Roosters gifting food to young chicks. So you may be surprised about the flock dynamic with the chicks. It can be quite amazing. But potential for brutal. So I've always tried to keep an eye on matters when possible.
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