A Minor Miracle

I think I've mentioned before that bantams are by far the most stupid of chickens... not a single brain cell between the flock.....

We've kept a few for some years. Around this time of year, for the past three or four, the hens decide that motherhood is where it's at. I don't like to be mean and keep taking their eggs away, so after a while, when one or more has decided to go broody, I end up leaving the eggs with them.

Net result each year so far has been weeks and weeks of really stupid birds making a real hash of trying to incubate eggs with a totally negative result. Lots of tatty looking birds end up wasting lots of eggs -often 35 or more.

But I am not in this for the money... their happiness is far more important than my frustration!

Imagine, therefore, my sheer amazement on opening up their house this morning and seeing - wonder of wonders - a real, live bantam chick....... as you can see from the photo, mum gave up after hatching the one..... and was really head-nodding mad at me for taking the picture!

The scene in another corner of their house is far more familiar: two hens sitting on a whole box full of eggs - which, of course, they have no hope of hatching cos there are just too many for two - quite often arguing with each other - little hens to keep consistently and constantly at the right temperature.

But who cares: today a bantam hen has produced a little chick. That is a minor miracle. I am ecstatic.....!!!