Last year our mother hen hatched one egg, and raised one chicken. (It is now a rooster!)
This year, in late February, she hatched and raised 11 chickens. (See blog in late February for photos of the chicks at one day old, and at 14 days old)
Here are three photos of the chickens at 6 weeks.
 |
| "Mum" is in the foreground. The chickens are developing their black neck feathers. |
 |
| With her brood foraging around the dam. (not all 11 are in the frame, obviously) |
The next two photos were taken at dusk, inside the chook pen.
The White Sussex bantams prefer to roost in a tree, not in the roost built by us. (The Isa Browns roost there...no tree-climbing for them!)
When the mother hen introduced her brood to the chook pen, the chickens were only 5 weeks old. They had great difficulty trying to climb up into the tree, like their mother.
My husband added this "ladder" which the chickens use to access the lower branches. ...as you can see.
Once in the tree, they can easily move among the branches and find a roost.
 |
| Using the ladder to gain access to the lower branches. |
 |
| Up high with mum....at last. |
We have no idea what happened to the missing chicken. Was it eaten by a fox or a quoll? Was it bitten by a snake? The last is probably not a reality because it is Autumn here on the Granite Belt, and the nights especially are cold. Most self-respecting reptiles are probably asleep for the winter by now.
No....a fox we think, because there are foxes about. We have seen them. In broad daylight. Not just at dusk. (We saw a fox kill a rabbit only last week)
So the mother hen has done well to raise 10 of the 11 to this stage.
And here are a couple of photos of the chickens at 11 weeks of age.
We can't tell yet whether they'll be hens or roosters.
But you can see how much they're growing.
 |
| Coming out of the hen house...."mum" with one of her brood. |
 |
| Early morning, and out of the hen house to eat seed. |
 |
| ..and then out to hunt for food in the grass. |
I think your chickens have got the right idea in nesting high up in the trees, out of the way of foxes and other predators. Loved the ladder! Perhaps they could be trained to do other ladder tricks and this could be a sideline attraction at the cellar door. Shame about losing one, but let's hope the rest survive. Thanks for the great photos. Their speckled neck feathers look like a little scarf tied round their necks - so pretty.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rayleigh.
ReplyDeleteYes, teaching the chickens other "ladder" tricks could prove to be a sideline to the wine. Maybe they could climb the ladder and learn to pick grapes! (and not eat them) Would that draw the crowds?
Oops sorry Rosaleigh....why did I write "Rayleigh" above. My mistake. Rosaleigh it should be!
ReplyDeleteFran
Gorgeous photos Frances. Our two little hens would be very jealous of the digs yours have. We are thinking about adding another two hens.. what do you think - separate house or just throw them in and see what happens?
ReplyDeleteAdd the other two, Emma,but be prepared for some nasty pecking etc, as all the hens vie for their place in the pecking order.
DeleteIt looks nasty when they're "fighting", but they don't end up fighting to the death! (Is that any consolation?)
And I always feel sorry for the poor chook at the bottom of the pecking order.
Yes, that does sound a bit brutal considering we are only doing it for more eggs... Maybe we can introduce them to each other over a fancy high tea of corn and sunflower seeds!
ReplyDelete