Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Happy Birthday!

This morning, at 6:30, I went to the barn for the usual routine of turning on the lights, doling out some scratch and then going in to chat with Broody. Someone else, besides Broody was talking up a storm! I could hear a little peeper coming from underneath Broody's mass of poofiness.

I picked Broody up to meet the birthday chick and this is what I saw. This little chick was lying there, head and neck sticking out, looking around.


After work, Ruth and I went straight to the barn and I picked up Broody to see what we would see. This looks like a little Cuckoo Maran, with a little brown on the wings.


I think you would agree with me that this is a pretty cute little chick. I think I already have a name for "her." I'm thinking Gladys. I'll explain more of that in a second.

These three eggs are pipping (red arrows). The chicks have a little egg tooth on their beak which is designed to crack the shell and allow the chick to breathe better. After the pipping begins the chick could be out in an hour or in a day.

Broody looking at her fine work. And probably wondering what the heck is that fuzzy thing doing in with my eggs!

Happy Birthday Gladys. I hope you're a pullet.

21 comments:

MYM said...

lol...Gladys and the Pips. You're too much! haha

Love the photos. How very exciting! Welcome to the world Gladys :)

A Bite of Country Cupcakes said...

I came by earlier today just in case there was news...
And now just mere hours later there is!!!
Oh lucky you...Well done broody gal!
And what a gorgeous lil one!!!
We are only day 6 in so fingers crossed our broody gal does her stuff too!

Lanny said...

Isn't Gladys the name of the chicken from Milo and Otis, also? Well done.

Candy Duell said...

Wow, chicks in the middle of Jan. Isn't it really cold out where you are? That is the kind I want to get are the Cuckoo Marans.

Buddhist in Training said...

How lovely Don! And endlessly exciting however many times you have eggs hatch!

Claire MW said...

Wonderful! Chicks are irresistibly cute aren't they?! I am hatching indoors in an incubator right now. We have -30 windchills today and none of my girls are broody. Bad weather for chicks all around.

warren said...

Wonderful! And to catch them in the act...fantastic!

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

How exciting! We had chicks last summer and it was just lovely. I also adore your blue eggs and your brown chick. Ours were all the regulation yellow.

Susan said...

Yay, yay, oh happy day! How sweet and I love the name. I had a friend named Gladys in third grade. She had blond pigtails.

I can't wait to see the rest of them! You and Broody must be so proud!

Donica said...

How cool is that! Congratulations to the proud parents and segregate mother!!

laura said...

I'm so pleased for Broody! That chick really is adorable: so small and soft; it tugs at your heart. Instincts work not only for Boroody but us as well!

VioletSky said...

How exciting to witness.
Thanks for sharing it with those of us who can't see in person.

Wicked sense of humour, you have with naming.

Don said...

Drowsey: the pips are now a sextet!
I hope Gladys can keep ahead of them

Don said...

cupcake: good luck with your brooder!

I am amazed at these creatures and the things they can do. Broody hung in there for 20 days and hardly ate or drank. She has started to gain an appetite again.

I wonder what causes some hens to do it and some to try it and stop and others don't even seem to be aware that they lay eggs!

Don said...

lanny: is that true? I like it...

Don said...

candy: I agree with you that this is crazy to hatch chicks in January. I have two Cuckoo maran hens and a rooster and I like them a lot! I am trying Welsummers this spring. I like the dark brown eggs!

Candy Duell said...

Did you but them mail order? Hatch them? they are so cute!

Ginnie Hart said...

I don't know whether to laugh or cry, Don, because it's a miracle of life, running the whole gamut of emotions! Can you imagine life before your chicks???

Anonymous said...

Don, Check out my blog post about how to sex a baby chick and see what you think your little chick is. Keep track and let me know if your test was correct.

Bob Johnson said...

Lol, love the name and the reason behind it, what exciting time for you Don.

ps congrats on the great shots.

Jennifer said...

Great pictures! Those chicks are so cute and they look soft!