We had excitement on the farm today, in the form of BABIES! Little Brown Barn Hen (LBBH) has been sitting on 18 eggs for some time...about 21 days, actually! And this morning, 5 of the eggs hatched!
One of the chicks didn't make it, but the other four did. Alan and I needed to move her and the babies to a warmer location in the barn. Unfortunately, LBBH wasn't interested on sitting on the remaining 13 eggs. Two of them had started to hatch, and we couldn't chance leaving them there with it being so chilly. So, in the house they went.
We also decided that we'd take the rest of the eggs too (that hadn't started hatching). They wouldn't have a chance for survival if mama hen stayed off the nest much longer. So, in the house they went... We put them in an incubator. I'm not sure how many will hatch, but we'll give it our best shot.
The two chicks that had started hatching were successful, and they're doing GREAT! The photo above is them, fresh out of their shells. Another one is working on escaping from it's shell currently, and I expect it to be fully hatched by early morning. So, that will make four chicks outside with Little Brown Barn Hen, and three in the house so far... You know how much I love chickens, and BABY chickens are even BETTER!
Take a look at how CUTE they are! You should be able to view the video here on my blog, but if not you might have better luck where it's posted directly on YouTube.
I love baby chickens! *grin*
wahhhh! cuteness!
Posted by: chickengirl | December 21, 2008 at 08:30 PM
Oh! *squealing with delight*! They are so cute! I wish I could have some, but I will have to live vicariously through you for now. How much fun are you having?!!
Posted by: Danielle | December 16, 2008 at 07:26 AM
Congratulations to everyone. Thanks for sharing your new babies w/us. So cute.
Posted by: Troy Louise | December 15, 2008 at 02:34 PM
I've been wondering.... how do you decide (or does the hen decide??) which eggs are for hatching and which are for eating?
Posted by: LisaC | December 15, 2008 at 08:26 AM
I've been wondering.... how do you decide (or does the hen decide??) which eggs are for hatching and which are for eating?
Posted by: LisaC | December 15, 2008 at 08:20 AM
Congrats on the new arrivals.
The other night, our sky was overcast so I missed seeing the moon in it's full shining glory.
Posted by: Laurie in MN | December 14, 2008 at 08:26 PM
Oh boy! Congratulations, chicky Momma! That is awesome! Sure hope some more babies hatch...at least you have given them a good chance! So happy that you have new babies to care for! :D
Posted by: diane mcvey | December 14, 2008 at 04:31 PM
Oh boy! Congratulations, chicky Momma! That is awesome! Sure hope some more babies hatch...at least you have given them a good chance! So happy that you have new babies to care for! :D
Posted by: diane mcvey | December 14, 2008 at 04:31 PM
What little sweeties! The ones with the mama are so cute. How much older are they than the newest hatchlings since they are really getting around good?
Posted by: Viv (VivLyn) | December 14, 2008 at 03:18 PM
I love "living on the farm" vicariously through your blog and videos. This chicks certainly have the awwwwwwwww factor. Cute as they can be! Best, Curt
Posted by: Curt OBrien | December 14, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Awwwwww How CUTE!!
Love the video!
Posted by: Darlene | December 14, 2008 at 09:06 AM
This was so enjoyable! Thank you for sharing - I just love baby animals and these little chicks are the cutest!!!
Posted by: Cindy H. | December 14, 2008 at 08:53 AM
Well, that's just the coolest thing ever!!!
I love your life on the farm and I'm so happy I found your blog - 'cause now I get to share it from my city house :)
I'll think all good things for the survival of all your new babies. And I hope that LBBH knows how lucky she is to have you to help her with her babies.....
Posted by: kate | December 14, 2008 at 08:52 AM
Well, that's just the coolest thing ever!!!
I love your life on the farm and I'm so happy I found your blog - 'cause now I get to share it from my city house :)
I'll think all good things for the survival of all your new babies. And I hope that LBBH knows how lucky she is to have you to help her with her babies.....
Posted by: kate | December 14, 2008 at 08:51 AM
Well, that's just the coolest thing ever!!!
I love your life on the farm and I'm so happy I found your blog - 'cause now I get to share it from my city house :)
I'll think all good things for the survival of all your new babies. And I hope that LBBH knows how lucky she is to have you to help her with her babies.....
Posted by: kate | December 14, 2008 at 08:51 AM
Such cute little babies! You are such a good momma! I never knew there were so many different and unique types of chickens or different colored eggs till I got hooked on your site for the stamped art.
Posted by: inkypaws | December 14, 2008 at 07:57 AM
Oh that is so cute! Brings back memories of my grandmother's farm. Love hearing the little "drit, drit" sounds of the chicks and the growling mama.
Posted by: Nancy | December 14, 2008 at 06:45 AM
Oh that is so cute! Brings back memories of my grandmother's farm. Love hearing the little "drit, drit" sounds of the chicks and the growling mama.
Posted by: Nancy | December 14, 2008 at 06:44 AM
Love the babies! Thanks for the videos.
BTW, my sister thinks Tiny Tim should have his own TV show!
Posted by: Toni K | December 14, 2008 at 06:11 AM
yay! is there anything cuter than baby birds??? :) look at those darling colors! they look like pheasants. thanks so much for the video!!!!!
Posted by: Shala | December 13, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Baby chicks are so sweet and precious!
Posted by: Erika Michaels | December 13, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Oh my they are so cute! I swear Anna you're making me want to move to the country and raise some animals!
Posted by: Tami McBeain (tmarie) | December 13, 2008 at 11:00 AM
so cute! I recently subscribed to your blog because of some amazing paper crafts. But i love the chicken videos. My 2 year old loves them too! He gets so excited. He watched the double yolk hatching video TWICE and didnt budge,,, just kept staring at the screen and saying MAMA! Look at the baby birds! Today he called them chicks so i guess with mama chicken close by he realized what they were!
Posted by: Katie Cotton (paper makeup) | December 13, 2008 at 10:19 AM
How wonderful. One year for Christmas, I came down to a huge cage in the middle of the living room. I pulled back the blanket and there was a bowl inside. Sleeping in the bowl all cuddled together were 6 baby chicks. They were adorable and my favorite pet. I still have a soft spot in my heart for chickens. Thanks so much for sharing.
Posted by: Sandy Hulsart | December 13, 2008 at 09:32 AM
OMG, these chicks are soooo cute!!! Thank you so much for sharing, I really enjoyed it - a lot!!
Posted by: Cindy H. | December 13, 2008 at 09:22 AM
YAY! Baby Chickens! Ain't life grand?
Posted by: alma de la rosa | December 13, 2008 at 08:44 AM
OMGosh - they are so adorable don't you just want to hold them and kiss them. We haven't had chickens in many many years and this brings back lovely memories. Thanks for sharing - Dru
Posted by: Dru | December 13, 2008 at 08:44 AM
Congratulations!!!!! Cute projects lately too!
Posted by: loislois | December 13, 2008 at 08:39 AM
Oh, those peeps are too freakin' ADORABLE!!!! Their little noises.....their little fuzzy bodies....how can you stand the cuteness?? That one that just hatched is too funny ~~~ trying to look around then PLOP time for a nap!
Posted by: Michelle (MilwaukeeMommy on SCS) | December 13, 2008 at 07:17 AM
The new babies are too cute. I guess with your weather the hens pretty much nest all year round or is she just a late starter. That is one large nest to sit hope the rest of the eggs hatch for you. I often think those were lucky little chicks that were delivered to your farm. Tiny Tim would probably have perished on any other farm. Ann Lind
Posted by: Ann lind | December 13, 2008 at 07:14 AM
Job well done, Mama Wight. Congratulations on your new brood - and thank you for producing the little video for us. Just loved it. Stephen Spielberg: move over!
Posted by: Gabriela Divine | December 13, 2008 at 06:25 AM
Anna, thanks for sharing your farm life with us. I thoroughly enjoy your photos and videos. Oh yes, and your cards too!
Posted by: Doris | December 13, 2008 at 05:30 AM
Thanks for sharing your farm life with us. I thoroughly enjoy your photos and videos. Oh yes, and your cards too!!
Posted by: Doris | December 13, 2008 at 05:28 AM
Congratulations! They're the cuttest little fluffies!
Posted by: Michelle | December 13, 2008 at 05:21 AM
So darn cute!
Posted by: Lindastamps | December 13, 2008 at 05:20 AM
So sweet!! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Lauri Ingram | December 13, 2008 at 01:54 AM
I love seeing all the different coloring patterns on the chicks. The kids are going to love these videos!
Posted by: Brook | December 13, 2008 at 01:06 AM
Aw...so cute Anna....18 eggs..YIKES! Thank goodness she wouldn't have to breast feed them LOL!
Posted by: Sue | December 12, 2008 at 11:16 PM
Sooooooooooo cute! And it brings back memories of my mom raising chickens when I was growing up. Thanks for the reminder!
Posted by: Shae | December 12, 2008 at 11:01 PM
wow! Oh, that mama hen is BEAUTIFUL!!!! What a gorgeous mama indeed.
Posted by: Laura | December 12, 2008 at 11:00 PM