PPPHatch – the 3rd and final week

I've been very careful not to disturb the Black Cochin broody, she's in a shady quiet corner of my friend's garden. Over the past week she has got used to daily visits to attend to her needs, and we know she trusts us not to harm her or the precious eggs; this morning it was my turn to get her up for her breakfast – and today she allowed me to take some photos.

Last night she had 'melted' down so flat it was as if she had deflated, here she is this morning just waking up . . .


I gently lifted her off the eggs; I noticed that two eggs were cool – mmmm? maybe she knows these are infertile and had pushed them aside, we'll see what happens this evening.


She quickly tucked into her breakfast! She had a drink of cool water and shook herself like a Black Labrador does when it's wet :-) She stretched her legs and paced about a bit and scratched the grass – then she turned towards her nest.


She checked the eggs very carefully . . .


And rolled them towards her, tucking them under her soft breast feathers . . .



Here's a little video of her settling down for another day, 14 days completed, another 7 or 8 to go.

I mustn't count my chicks before they hatch, but I'm getting a tiny bit excited!

Celia
x


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