Orp and her chicks.

[dinosaw]

Well, as predicted Orp has made a better job of hatching than the others. She was bit naughty as she actually stole these eggs off our bottom ranking bird who had been sitting on them for a fortnight. I wonder if this is how it works in the wild without human interference, (this is the first time we have just let the birds get on with it) that way the chicks have the benefit of the protection of a higher ranking bird who isn't absolutely knackered after not eating properly for three weeks. Orp is number two and doesn't take any lip so has been particularly vocal when any other birds approached her on the nest. More photos of chicks for you anyway.

 

[valeriebutterley]

She looks a no nonsense bird!
Absolutely beautiful chicks, and lovely photos. I have just had a single barred Plymouth rock hatch out of 12 eggs 7 of which were infertile, one was dead in shell and the others did not develop.
It is stronger than I thought, after hatching I didn't think it would last the night, it did and the only time it gives a distressed long cheep is when I dislodge it from my cupped hand, snuggles down eventually under the electric hen and sleeps.

 

[MrsBiscuit]

I love that last picture

In my experience bantam orps make fantastic Mums, they brood very well and look after the chicks very well. They are much less clumsy than the LF, and just everything about the whole process seems to work out as it should. Enjoy them all

 

[Marigold]

Lovely photos, dinosaw. I wish I had room for chicks - mind you, in the absence of my dear Marigold (RIP) nobody else in the present flock would be willing to look after them!

 

[dinosaw]

Yesterday we had her best buddy and top bird our huge light Sussex looking enviously at the chicks, within half an hour she had decided to go broody and was firmly set in the nest box. Never had so much fuss from a bird about being put in the broody cage.
You in Portugal or UK at the mo Mrs B?

 

[MrsBiscuit]

In portugal We have been here 3 weeks. We had a week of cloud and rain and no phone/internet after flash flood, but back to normal today with sun. Apparently the winter was warm and humid; not as wet as normal, but not as dry as UK. The vegetation required a machete in order to reach the front door....but it's all glorious, it's still green everywhere and all the wild plants are flowering their socks off I was given 2 dozen eggs by a neighbour, so slowly chomping our way through them. I still don't have my own birds and family circs mean they won't be on the agenda for a while, but I do like to keep in touch with world of feathery fowl

 

[dinosaw]

Well you must have a feral sense for weather because it has rained for a week here now. Absolutely p'd it down today with lots of surface water on the roads. Local kids obviously have parents with no sense as I drove through the local town at 3pm to see most of them looking like drowned rats in their blazers, maybe only one in twenty with a coat on!.