Broody Chicken

Zeke  R.I.P. You and your big, floppy comb

We have a broody chicken. We think she is the same Barred Rock that got broody on us in September. I say, “we think,” because the two Barred Rock's we have look identical with no real distinguishing marks to tell them apart. It's just as well, really. When you name them you seem to get more attached and it's always harder when they meet their end. We had a Barred Rock earlier this year that had an extra long comb that flopped over her head. I named her Zeke. Zeke was extra friendly and our five year old neighbor loved her. Zeke would let her pick her up and handle her and carry her around without the usual fuss that would come with that nonsense. (Picking up chickens usually results in a fair amount of protest from the chicken.) But Zeke, as sweet as she was, was killed in lieu of a punchline. Why did the chicken cross the road? To be run over by a careless driver.

Anyway... back to the broody hen...

Broody Chicken

When she got broody back in the Fall we discouraged her from sitting by stealing her eggs. We didn't want to worry about the babies as winter set in. Now, though, Stan wants her to hatch a few. We have purchased chickens from farmers, from hatcheries (mail order), from the feed stores and we have even incubated our own in a friend's incubator, but never have we let nature take it's course. So, here we are, letting Broody Chicken sit on four eggs. And, in twenty-one days, maybe a few less since she has been sitting for a few days already-- although neither of us is really sure of the exact date-- we should have chicks!
With our luck, they will all be roosters.

Stay tuned.....