Despite all the loss our family has endured the past few weeks, life continues on with my chickens.
Maisie, my 8 month old Olive Egger pullet, became broody a few weeks back. I have hoped for a broody hen ever since getting chickens a few years ago.
It’s very unusual for a chicken as young as she is to go broody, and I wasn’t sure at first if she was, but sure enough, all day and all night she was sitting, poofed up, on that nest and wouldn’t budge. So I decided to give her some eggs to sit on.
She was a sweet broody hen and never once bit me or did the raptor scream at me.
Then, amist my surgery and my grandpa’s death, DT was checking on the chickens for me and came running in with some exciting news.
As he raised Maisie up to see if there were any eggs (sometimes other hens would lay fresh eggs in her nest), two little chicks popped their heads out of her massive blue fluff. So, in my drugged induced and sore state I waddled out there to see for myself. Of course, who wouldn’t?
Maisie ended up hatching 3 chicks and was a wonderful little mother.
She taught them to forage for food, drink and dust bathe. No brooder needed, no heat lamp. Little Maisie did all the work. She is also a fierce defender of her little brood, just watch another chicken get too close, and she’d spin around and chase them off. It’s hilarious.
She would cluck and bak bak at the chicks and they come running for the little morsel of food she had found.
It’s very cute to witness. Each morning before my coffee even and when everyone else was still asleep, I would sneak outside to sit and watch the little mama and the babies in action.
I like to call it a bit of chicken therapy, it soothes my soul!
Ha! Ha! Chicken for the Soul:-)
I am so excited!! She is so pretty! Loving your little chickens.
That would be a definite mood lifter. So cute!
Lovely post, great ending words! I’m so sorry to hear all that’s been going on, I’m going to have to catch up now. :o(
What a BEAUTIFUL tribute to your grandfather, I read every blog that linked from his name! You know how much I love your grandmother and ofcourse I love you too…… so much love even when your heart is broken by it! Continuing to pray for your healing physically, emotionally and spiritually. “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, they are plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11
Wonderful post…..thank you for sharing it and the great pictures with us…feels like I am there enjoying it with you…thank you for making my day better…..:)
Oh, those baby chicks are so precious!
My SIL is thinking about getting some chickens, and I’ve told her about your chicken posts. Maybe one day she’ll gather up the courage!
And, amidst the sadness, life goes on. Hope you are feeling better both physically and emotionally. What a wonderful little gift from Maisie. Have a blessed Easter.
That is the sweetest thing ever! The only things I know about chickens are what you blog about. Learning something new everyday…”broody chicken”…never knew what that was. 🙂
sounds like chicken therapy was the perfect thing 🙂
Chickens are great therapy, and broody mamas are my favorite time of the year. My girls started going broody about 2 months after they started laying eggs. They got right down to business. Glad you’re getting to enjoy your chicks and mama. I like to think about how God talks about hiding us under his wings like a mother hen. Really beautiful when you get to see it in person.
Awe, this is so cute! I was looking for ways to break the broodiness of my olive egger and I ran across this post. My girl will never be able to hatch an egg since they aren’t fertile, so there is no need for her to be broody, but I think like your little Maisy, my Olive would be a good mother hen.
I have found that new life is always a wonderful antidote to the sting of death. : )