SURPRISE!!!

One speckled Sussex hen kept flying out of the run and hunkering down under the deck.  While we were afraid that predators would get her, we know from experience that this usually means there are chicks on the way.  

It's frustrating to try to catch her 19,237 times, so sometimes we let them do their thing.  

On Sunday afternoon, Blossom3 and Blossom4 encountered her in the yard with some black bumpy things wiggling underneath her.  

After careful investigation, screams of "CHICKS, CHICKSSSSSS, CHICKSSSSSSSSSS" could be heard all throughout the Hollow.  

I jogged out there expecting maybe three chicks.  

We grabbed a cage to help relocate her and her new brood to a safer place.  The threat of coyotes and birds of prey is especially heightened this time of year.  

Gleefully we counted as she proudly clucked and cooed her joy.

One... two... three... four... five... WHAT? 

six... seven... eight... REALLY? 

nine... ten... eleven... FOR REAL? 

twelve... thirteen... FOURTEEN???!!!!

Yes, Lady Catherine the Bird* hatched FOURTEEN chicks and is teaching them how to forage already. 

Watching hens teach their chicks is one of my most favorite micro farm experiences.  It speaks a lot to mamas training their children in their future roles.  A female hen will actually make a very similar crowing sound and do drop-wing motions when training her male chicks.  It's the only time you will ever see or hear her do these strictly male-type actions.  She teaches all her chicks how to eat by making special clucking sounds to get their attention and then they learn by imitating what she's doing.  It's so intentional that it's absolutely fascinating.  

We're thankful we have been able to observe the process thus far.

*Props to you if you caught the veiled Pride & Prejudice reference.  This is a house full of classics-loving girls, after all.