The Momma Hen (Part Deux)

After a Black Star hen hatched out a little brood of four chicks, one of which died in a rainstorm, yet another Black Star hen got broody and was sitting on three more eggs.  Usually, we'll move them aside and pick up the eggs, but we decided to allow her to hatch out her eggs.  While the previous hen had a secret nest, this girl nested in a milk crate nesting box adjacent to the goat milking stand.  As you can see, sometimes Nellie, the goat, does her business and her 'pellets' fall in the nesting box. We try to keep fresh hay in the nesting boxes, but we haven't been able to put fresh hay with her sitting on eggs.

Momma Hen with feathers all fluffed up

We heard some chirping and lifted her up to reveal one baby chick that had hatched out.  The other two eggs evidently weren't fertile and never hatched.  A 33.33% hatch rate - not as good as our incubator.  We have plenty of roosters, but apparently some of the hens aren't getting fertilized.

Checking on the Chick

Oh well.  After setting for a few more days, the hen figured out that it was futile and started to tend to her only child, nurturing for her, caring for her, and teaching her. I say her, because we're hoping it is a female.  We really don't need any more roosters.

School is in session

It is really remarkable to watch a momma hen and her offspring.  She makes all sorts of noises in communicating with her chick.  You can hear the different inflection in her clucks that identify when she's trying to send an alarm or a calm cluck when she's trying to teach or draw her chick near to her.

She will use her beak to point out where bits of food, seeds, or water is.  If the chick isn't paying attention (like a lot of students do from time to time), the mother hen will call urgently, "Come eat, watch me, learn..."  It is really neat the way God has wired Mothers to have the motherly instinct, to be so compassionate and caring. The Momma hen models behavior for her chick and expects her to watch and learn - just as human mothers do.

The chick is not paying attention

The chick may be doing her own thing, but the mother calls and then the chick will come running!

Here I am!

The hen is very protective over her little chick.  If I try to come between her and her baby, she'll make threatening noises, fluff her feathers and her little one will come running and get underneath her for protection.

A teachable moment

While the other hen had 3 little ones to keep together and observe, this hen only has one.  She can direct her full attention to raising and teaching one baby.  We also check on the chick daily and I noticed today that she is starting to put on her first little feathers.  Just like human babies, they grow up too fast and leave the nest!