A bit over a month ago my white Cochin hen, Ophelia, went broody. At first I took the eggs away every day, then she just had a couple so I though, "Fine, let her sit." She and Lobelia (an auracana who lays green eggs) have been taking turns sitting on the clutch, which is interesting. My rooster is a white Leghorn, so I was fine with little white cross birds, but the Leghorn/Auracauna crosses may turn out odd. I was starting to think I wasn't going to get anything, because the incubation period is supposed to be 21 days, and we were a week over by my estimate. Of course, I'd taken away some of the first eggs right away, so that would throw the calculation off...but I digress.
I went out this afternoon to do some yard work, and heard a little bird in distress, "Cheep! Cheep! Cheep!" I assumed one of the cats had a swallow or robin, but they were all empty-"handed". I kept following the noise...and found a little yellow-white peep in the garden! Poor infant! Must have hatched this morning, because she was dry and mobile. Maybe Ophelia went out for some air and baby followed her...then stupid mom went in without baby. I scooped her up and put her in the cat carrier with her mommy, and she disappeared under the fluff.
There are five or six more eggs under her....gah. I'm sure some will be boys, so I'll have to get rid of them eventually, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Actually, I'll probably put most of them up for "adoption" since I don't need a coop full of white and odd-colored birds. I'm happy with just one or two of each kind, thanks.
Anyway, it's very exciting. Yes, I'm a dilettante "farmer" and little things like this that are just business as usual for real farmers are very interesting to me!
