New chicks are in the house... dog house that is!

Babies out exploring, seeing what they can peck at...
One having a drink, others trying to escape home...
Mummy showing them how it is done...

Last Thursday and Friday we had six little chicks from 10 eggs. One was a dud and three had started to form but were only in the early stages and then died. I always like to make sure why an egg doesn't hatch to see if there is anything that I can do in the future to prevent it happening again. Can't be helped allot of times with chook eggs though. I realise that but try anyway.

So these little cuties are running around during the day with Mum now. She is soooo good. She clucks at them and teaches them to feed and drink. She calls them constantly and is always looking out for other chooks that might want to peck at them. She is a very good mum.

We have a silkie cross sitting on eggs as well and she is due next Tuesday so will see what she come up with... Will be rather cute to see two mums with their babies. And I must say it is a real relief to not have to have babies in the bathroom... I moved the nesting box and chook with eggs within the first week of her sitting on the eggs as she was up high in the chook house and knew that when the chicks were born they would end up on the floor again so moved everything to a spare dog house and barricaded her in there so that nothing could get to her and the eggs/babies during the night. Nice little safe haven it is for them...

Hope you enjoy the photos.

Cheers Damaris