Belle Takes Over

Our Australorp mama has seemingly given up on the motherhood project. She had been taking her chicks outside to forage almost from the time they were hatched, whereas Belle, the Buff Orpington, has yet to bring her babies out of the run. On Monday Sarah left the two chicks - who are far too young and defenseless to be outside on their own - twice to re-join her flock.

Fortunately I found them before the barn cats had a chance to make a snack out of either of them. I tried putting them back with their mother, but she seemed only vaguely interested; really, she had almost a puzzled air about her as though she couldn't quite remember where she had seen these chicks before. When she left them alone a second time, I decided to give them to Belle. I watched for any aggressive behavior on Belle's part, but she simply took over, clucking and scratching and showing the youngsters where and how to find food. Although the two foster chicks displayed some trepidation about getting into the nest with Belle and her two babies, once I placed them beside her they dove under her. Tonight they needed no encouragement - when I checked on everyone before shutting up he coop and run, I saw four little faces peering out from underneath Belle, and she seemed very content to have suddenly added two more chicks to her brood.

Sarah, the Australorp, spent some time huddled by the run this evening. She seemed a little dejected. I felt sorry for her, but the chicks have adjusted to Belle, she has, for all intents and purposes, adopted them, so better to let things stay as they lay. Sarah did a good job; she's just a youngster herself at seven months old, and this was her first time raising chicks, so perhaps she'll get better with time and practice.

Pictures to follow. I spent Mother's Day hunting arrowheads. I got a few interesting chips, a couple of fossils and part of a stone axe. Plan to do that again - soon!

Update: Belle really is a terrific broody. Here she is relaxing in her part of the run this evening with all four chicks under her. Shortly after I took these photos she retired to her nest (rigged from a big plastic dog crate, filled with straw bedding, food and water inside. The metal front door of the crate is wrapped with hardware cloth to keep critters out and the crate is positioned on two pieces of wood to keep it off the ground. As a final flourish the entire arrangement is wrapped in a heavyweight, waterproof Weatherbeeta horse blanket to keep things insulated and dry. So far it has all worked really well).