IT'S ALMOST HERE, SUNDAY MARCH 19 MARKS 21 DAYS FOR MARILYNS EGGS
UPDATE, MAGIC HAPPENED, SCROLL DOWN TO SEE IT UNFOLD
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| DAY 20, GETTING READY TO POP THOSE CAPSULES ;-) |
Our first little white Silkie hen has been sitting on three eggs for the last 20 days. These three eggs came from Punky and the Rangers. Marilyn was broody and when her last batch failed we switched her to these fresh eggs.
This little chicken is so sweet, I love to pet her head when I change out her food and water bowls.
We've enjoyed watching her roll the eggs and move the nest around in her brooder box. She moves the nest every day (even today, day 20). In order to move the eggs around she uses her beak to pull the eggs towards her and pushes them under her body to the new location. She moves the whole nest of three eggs to its new location in about three minutes.
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| MARILYN HAS ONE EGG UNDER EACH WING AND ONE UNDER HER LEFT BREAST |
We have a wifi camera and hard disk recorder inside the box with her so we can see if we can see ANYTHING when the eggs hatch. We probably won't be able to see anything because it all happens under her.
You Go Girl, we're hoping you finally have some baby chicks to look after.
UPDATE • P E E P !
SHE HAS DONE IT, WE HEARD A PEEP AND SAW A NEW LITTLE YELLOW FACE
Marilyn has hatched at least one of her three eggs, finally after two years she has at least one baby.
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| There is not much on Earth cuter than a new born baby chick peeping from Wings of Love |
It is chilly upper 50's this morning, new born baby chicks need 95-degrees F so we're not seeing much. Then it happened, a tiny yellow head peaked out from under Marilyns wing.
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| Hello....less than 24 hours old |
We've been watching the camera in her brooder box and it has been fascinating to see her lifting up to let something happen underneath her.
HEADING OUT TO SEE NEW BABY CHICKS
We WERE waiting until it gets warmer outside to pick her up and shoot photos and video of the new baby(s). I did not shoot any photos but I got this video, "Faith" and "Hope" are born. One egg unhatched, cross your fingers for one more little magical chicken spirit to emerge.
AND THEN THERE WERE THREE!
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| FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE |
MARILYN = WINNER OF OUR COVETED
CHICKEN MOM OF THE YEAR AWARD :-)
100% HATCH RATE ON HER THREE CAPSULES, WELCOME TO EARTH
Faith, Hope and Love are born. Faith and Hope arrived on day one and Love surprised us on day two. All three of them are yellow which makes their eyes all the more cute. All three appear to be healthy and very lively.
ALAS, the kids were not cooperative in this video, I did not see all three in the frame. "LOVE" is still a day behind the others and is staying hidden under Marilyns warm wings of love. The temperature in the porch is around 74 degrees F but it was down at 41 degrees just a few hours ago. That is WAY too cold for day old baby chickens.
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| Momma Marilyn and her three babies, Faith, Hope and Love |
Love is a little smaller than the other two, she is a day behind. At two days old the first two are twice as old as Love who is only one day old.
Marilyn is such a sweet chicken. Just like people chickens have different personalities and hers is exceptional. She has spent a significant portion of her life being "Broody" (which means she wants to hatch some eggs). She does not care who's eggs she's hatching, she just wanted to hatch ANYTHING.
NOTHING IS SOFTER THAN A BABY CHICK
We took turns grabbing baby chickens and tickling them on the belly, instead of cheeping loudly and acting like we're killing them, this one was mellow and almost happy with Marys warm hand and gentle tickle.
Marilyns personality is "laid back", not sure whether she just learned to trust us or she's just that mellow, either way she is unique and her vibe is already showing in her three new baby chicks. They are friendly and gregarious not timid and shy.
