We have (rather cute) chicks…

Sunday morning.

It came with apprehension and excitement.

Apprehension because I didn’t know what I was going to find this morning and it could have been anything from a scene of carnage, death and destruction to nothing at all.

Excitement because we should have some chicks.  Day 22, technically sort of part way into day 21 because the eggs were set late in the evening so Day 21 didn’t really start until Saturday evening…

At first everything appeared normal.  But the girls were behaving strangely although the all left the coop as per normal and with the usual level of excitement.  Then they started to feed, as per normal and CC was clucking to me as per usual, but failed to get off the nest to feed and drink.  Then, whilst I waited the girls, specifically JJ2 (Just Jennie) kept going back and looking at CC.  She would just stand there and look, then turn around and walk away.  CC just carried on clucking… but she didn’t get off the nest.

After 30 minutes and with even the water turned on (that is my normal trick to getting her off the nest, running water) I decided to go into her area and have a look.  One closer examination, every now and again, I got to see a foot, more importantly it was moving and kicking around.

But then I spotted this, chirping away at the back, as well…

Finally CC stood up enough for a better view of the first chick… Or actually the second to hatch.

Sandra, who has been giving me loads of help and assistance with the chicks, not to mention patient advice and help… plus CC and JJ2 (and VV) all came from her, came over with a heat lamp just in case the worst comes to the worst and I have to hand raise the chicks.  So far it hasn’t been needed but we will find out in the next few days…

And so a few more pictures – these come with a warning… CUTE CHICK ALERT!

Isn’t CC huge compared to the chick?


And the other chick… the one that was still in the shell before (at least I think it is that one, lets just put it that way!)

Currently, that appears to be all that have hatched for today.  However, I was convinced that I could hear 3 chicks chirping away under CC earlier (around 5pm) and there is a chance that another has hatched or is hatching at the moment.  It’s a case of watch this space…