Wee Manetta has a friend!

I went out to feed the chickens this morning, and there was an awful lot of peeping coming from under the hen that hatched Wee Manetta yesterday. She stood up to get some grain and sure enough -- a second chick was under her - this time a baby chicken! I didn't have my camera with me or you'd have a cute picture instead of this "artist rendition" of the chick.

The hen was in the process of moving nesting spots, and where she's sitting now isn't very accessible (unless you're a chicken). So I might not be able to get a photo for you any time soon. The new chick is an itty bitty little thing! Hope they do well -- seems like they've got a good mama.

Since she left the rest of the eggs she's been sitting on, I took them and put them under another hen that has been sitting. She's determined to hatch something, so we'll see if she can brew up another couple of chicks.

Edited to Add: I've had a few questions about how the hen hatched different kinds of babies (a chicken, and a turken). They're good questions! Free-range chickens (those not kept in individual cages) tend to lay their eggs in only a few nest areas. On a normal day after a hen lays her egg, she goes out to be with the rest of the chickens. Another hen will go to the same nesting spot, lay her egg, and rejoin the flock. Followed by another hen, etc. Assuming you have several kinds of chickens, you will have several kinds of eggs layed in one nest. When a hen decides she wants to sit on eggs long enough for something to hatch, there's a very good chance that she's cookin' more than just her own eggs. I pick eggs every day, but I try not to disturb a hen that's sitting (she's probably laying). They tend to "FREAK OUT" if they're disturbed while they're trying to lay their egg. ...I probably would too.  =)

Comments

[Martha]

The kids and I love following your farm adventures. Living in the suburbs we don't get much exposure to these various animals and their habits. Great educational experience for all of us. And great pictures.

[Juanita]

I love your sketch!! Thanks for all the wonderful information about hens and turkens, I find it very educational. TFS.

[Jeanne in Idaho]

Will the real surrogate mother please stand up??? Ha! Too funny!! And other birds simply shove someone else's eggs out of the nest and lay their own (i.e. cuckoo birds). That is so sweet that they share the responsibility - I guess they love the stepchildren! JH in Idaho

[diane mcvey]

Hurray!! Another chick...how awesome. Hope you get some more from the other laying hen! Congratulations, farm Mom! :)

[Lisa]

Interesting! I often wondered about eggs and how you know which ones to pick and which ones will hatch!

[cHRIS]

Anna,
That is so interesting. I would have never thought that a hen would sit on another's eggs to hatch. Who would have thunk it???
Thanks for sharing..Chris

[Regina D.]

Not "obbession"...good grief. I meant obsession. Oh well, just want to make sure that people know that I can spell.

[Regina D.]

Thanks for the chicken lesson. Who would have thought that my stamping obbession would teach me something about chickens? Learn something new every day...

[Lenita]

OK, this may be totally stupid but how do you have two different kind of babies from the same Mom? The logical answer is, of course, two different dads but I'm not sure I'm following.....how exciting to have new babies around all the time on the farm!!

Totally a City Girl,
Lenita

[Manetta Deggelman]

I have got to get down there to see my 'kids'! Even when tiny, they are adorable! I can still see the first image you posted of your turkens.... there she was -- strutting across the yard like she owned the place! Super model to the second power! Take good care of my little ones! Keep us updated! Love, the 'original' Manetta

[Viv]

Where's that skinny hairless neck? This is a cute little chicken!

[Elizabeth]

That is just the cutest thing ever!