At 8 days old.

8 days old already. Still quite cute but fluff is giving way to feathers on wings and stubby tails.

Mother hen has shown her chicks where and what to peck and they dutifully rush to her side and feed when she make a special little clucky noise which obviously means 'Come and get it' in hen-speak. I've noticed that they instinctively scratch and preen too, like the miniature hens they are fast becoming. You might be interested to know that with this breed - Cream Legbars - the sexes can be identified on day 1, the females having darker plumage than the males. This is fortunate as chicken-sexing is definitely not one of my specialisms.
She still manages to accommodate them all under her wings - for warmth and protection - a bit like a feathery tea cosy really. I love the way little heads peep out at random. With weather as miserable as it has been it must be wonderful warm retreat. I wonder for how long they will all manage to snuggle down there. More news next week.