Hatchlings Happening!

[Karen]

Though we have had some mama hens - and a mama duck - brooding eggs, and Lola hatched nine chicks of her own, Lady Kathering had three, lost one and adopted the baby chicks we bought to bring to church down in Belmont, Massachusetts for Easter, we did end up buying an incubator last months, as we had eggs aplenty, and were not sure any of the hens would stay broody long enough to hatch any. Lady Katherine's chicks are older, and getting huge by the way!

Lola, who is a Rapa Nui hen, hid her nest until suddenly there were nine - three yellow, three black and three brown. Madeline has her own she is hatching, but we the humans are in charge of the incubator! Just had another one hatch that I got to discover, it is drying off and staying warm in the incubator currently.

So exciting here at the farm! And we have at least two duckings - Cardamom hatched three, but stepped on one.

[cats4ever]

That is really exciting!
Do you have some pictures of all those babies?

[Karen]

I keep trying, but normally they are too busy moving too fast! Will see what I can dig up!

[phesina]

Wow! Your family has grown, for sure!

Best wishes to all!!!

[Karen]

Thanks, dark now and everyone is sleeping, but will try for pictures tomorrow!

[Karen]

Okay, some pictures!

We do not give hatchlings names until they are in their full feather - too many hazards out there for them, and of course we don't really know them yet!

But here is what I managed to get:

Mama Cardamom - Muscovy Duck and her two ducklings: