I think an announcement should be posted on the Palace railings. (Although maybe a Blog is the Proclamation de nos jours.) Let's have a day of National Celebration too. Let's really push the boat out.
I'm pleased to announce the latest arrivals in the small mountain kingdom of Trelystan - 7 Cream Legbar chickens. 4 Cockerels and 3 hens I believe. I am fighting the temptation to use all the soppy adjectives in the book - but this really is an 'aww cute' situation.
Their surrogate mum is a Silver Laced Wyandotte bantam who has sat tight on the little clutch of eggs for the past 3 weeks. Yesterday I could hear chicks cheeping from inside their shells and this morning 7 balls of fluff with beaks and beady eyes were peeping from under her wings; they had hatched overnight.
I am amazed that this first time mother knows instinctively what to do. Already she is showing them food and water - although I think they don't need either for 48 hours. Her trance-like broody state has gone and she seems attentive and demonstrative with a new series of clucks which must mean something to the chicks. As a first-timer I wonder if she was surprised when the eggs she'd patiently nurtured turned into wriggly living things beneath her.
She's taking it all in her stride. Me, I'm giddy with excitement and quite glowing with pride.
Well done that hen!
10 comments:
Ah I'm SO not a chicken person (other than on my plate) but even I have to admit these are quite cute. Congratulations on the additions to the family!
I kept Silkies for a while and they made great Mums, I know how you are feeling makes the hairs on the back of my neck standup just looking at them they are very cute.
Blossom
They are so lovely and by far the best thing is for them to be raised by a mother hen. Hard not just to say how cute isn't it? ours are feathering up by the day and dont look quite so cute!
Whether with the trials and tribulations of Elizabeth's brood, or the serene maternity of yours F, I still want chickens... not for eggs, but just because I love them.
Totally envious!
Zoë
What gorgeous photos of the brood. You sound so excited, justifiably, that your post is a great pleasure to read.
Ahh, so cute. Our silver laced wyandotte is a bit old now and frankly a bit lacking in the personality department unlike the one the fox got - she belonged to my son Tom who named her J-Lo as she was quite a 'big piece' (his words not mine!). By golly, that girl had a temper and scared the life out of me! xx
Aw they are gorgeous. Congratulations . . . miss mine - so pictures if these as they are growing up please.
Now how did you know which were cockerels and which were the hens.
hmmm, I don't do chickens despite what you lot say, but horses for courses etc and as long as you're enjoying them... but I'll eat 'em - oh, and glancing up, exactly what Jane has said, oh, without the generous congrats. Drat. Congrats! neversoslightly forced...
Well you know I would just love 'em to bits ...congratulations
Very sweet! I can see why you're proud :)
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