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What a surprise! I Went the allotment and after feeding the hens and collecting the eggs decided to have a look at my broody hen. She was sitting on the floor of the run and i thought "Oh-nooo she's abandoned the eggs"
It wasn't until i moved closer to her that she had a peck at me and a little brown and white chick ran out from beneath her wings.
The nest box she was sitting in is four foot above the run floor and this little fellow must have fallen out the nest!
I then looked in the nest and saw a huddle of black, brown and white chicks! I wasn't expecting chicks hatching yeat and thought i had another week.
I had to quickly set up a broody pen I already had by turning it round on its stand. I then went and got straw for the nestbox and popped the chicks in that she wasn't guarding.
After being attacked again (which i didn't mind at all) I managed to get her in with her brood I then had to chase the chick she was shielding annd get it in with the others and their mum. I put a shallow bowl of awater in the run section and piled some more straw in.
It was then i realised i had no chick crumb for them. A trip to the nearest pet shop was called for and on my return I put an egg tray of chick crumb in for them
After having been pecked quite a lot I went and put a glove on before replacing the remaining two eggs under her. They may be duds but i thought I would give them a chance.
Everything happened so quickly and I was so shaking like an expectant father that I THINK I counted four black chicks,a cream chick with brown stripe and a white with a black stripe.
Hopefully tomorrow wil see them all safe and up and about.
It wasn't until i moved closer to her that she had a peck at me and a little brown and white chick ran out from beneath her wings.The nest box she was sitting in is four foot above the run floor and this little fellow must have fallen out the nest!
I then looked in the nest and saw a huddle of black, brown and white chicks! I wasn't expecting chicks hatching yeat and thought i had another week.
I had to quickly set up a broody pen I already had by turning it round on its stand. I then went and got straw for the nestbox and popped the chicks in that she wasn't guarding.
After being attacked again (which i didn't mind at all) I managed to get her in with her brood I then had to chase the chick she was shielding annd get it in with the others and their mum. I put a shallow bowl of awater in the run section and piled some more straw in.
It was then i realised i had no chick crumb for them. A trip to the nearest pet shop was called for and on my return I put an egg tray of chick crumb in for them
After having been pecked quite a lot I went and put a glove on before replacing the remaining two eggs under her. They may be duds but i thought I would give them a chance.
Everything happened so quickly and I was so shaking like an expectant father that I THINK I counted four black chicks,a cream chick with brown stripe and a white with a black stripe.
Hopefully tomorrow wil see them all safe and up and about.
No I didn't, but I will tomorrow if they don't try and commit suicide in the mean time.
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