An Only chick

Only one baby hatched:( I think it’s just too early for chicks; too tough for them to survive and egg cooling happens too rapidly this early in the spring.

I thought only chicks were super sad, growing up alone, but they do get intense one-on-one attention. Little Mama gave the other eggs a couple of days, then strutted out all Alright kiddo, time to learn to scratch!

I moved her abandoned eggs down the line, to the six Silkies currently broody in the Silkie coop. The eggs are all mixed up now but some were started a few days after the others. There’s some hope for more.

Of course, Little Mama’s vicious. She hasn’t drawn my blood yet, but she’s ready to kill everyone, including herself and her chick, in the face of the threat of being picked up! I’m considering wearing gloves just to move her outside and to put her box in the coop at night.

She’s so cute from a distance though. She was busy dust bathing, and I could see the chick was getting a little tired, the head was starting to sink, and she popped up and clucked her way into the box and curled up. Ok, now it’s time for a nap! and the chick followed her in and burrowed in.

First day on the grass!

And today, freedom. She’s intent on digging holes, everywhere.