Celia Hart's blog about what's going on in and around her studio.
Art, printmaking, inspirations, gardening, vegetables, hens, landscapes, wild flowers, East Anglia, adventure, travel.

Tuesday 5 July 2011

Breakfast time in the coop

The Black Cochin hen is totally engrossed in teaching her new brood of nine chicks to peck their food – yes, the little weak chick is up and about with the others. I don't think any more words are necessary . . . I'll let you watch while I get down to work (a digital artwork commission for some rather diverse maps - I may be quiet for some time!)



In case you're wondering why there is a pretty blue gingham tablecloth in the coop – it's not just to make it look cute; tiny chicks' legs are very delicate and if their feet can't grip on the floor they skid and do the splits resulting in the bones setting at the wrong angle and a crippled chick; so a rough textured tea-towel makes a perfect floor covering for little feet.

Celia
x

22 comments:

  1. Oh, they are so gorgeous! Nine, you say? What a great job the hen did.

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  2. Nine!

    Are they all cochins?

    Martin :)

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  3. None are Cochins Martin, they are a mixed bunch of pure breeds:
    the dark chicks are Wheaten Marans (we hope! but they may be something else!); the plain grey ones are Lavener Araucana (like my cockerel Tarragon - pleeeeeease let them me girlies!); the little auburn stripy ones are golden silkies; and the tiny grey blond stripy ones are silver partridge Pekin bantams.
    Now we have to guess which are the boys!

    Celia

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  4. nine chicks! so pleased you got chicks in the end, they are so sweet to watch, well done to the black Cochin mum : )

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  5. What great news! I love the bossiness of broodies; come here, eat this, now have a nap, have a drink, get in the house, come for a walk, another nap. Constant repetition to help them learn.
    I love it at about day ten when they start 'surfing' on mum's back.

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  6. That's made my day. Adorable.

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  7. Oh Celia, they are just gooorgeous, so sweet..........

    I love how they instinctively know what to do, peck and scratch around. What a proud mama, she's done a wonderful job hatching 9 bubs.

    It will be interesting to see how many are hens or roosters........

    Claire :}

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  8. Another fine film, Celia!

    I love watching this pecking lesson. Looks as if one of the chicks needed quite a lot of encouraging to finally find its place at the table.

    The teatowel is a great idea.

    Best wishes on your map making. xo

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  9. how lovely! glad the weakly chick is up & about, hope it stays that way. i hadn't realized how delicate chicks were. the only chicks i've ever been around were my grandmothers' meat chickens, & they didn't live long enough for an incorrect bone set to matter.

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  10. love the one with the white bum but they are all gorgeous !!!!

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  11. I like the little chick with the black body and the white bottom who takes a fancy to pecking the tea towel. Congratulations Celia! I'm so pleased they hatched, I had thought nothing was going to happen, so what a wonderful surprise! Nine chicks seems like a very healthy brood, she's going to have her work cut out keeping them in order. Just imagine how adorable they're going to look when they're following her around, too cute. You must be so excited!!!!!!!! Love Vanessa xxx

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  12. I've just returned for the second time to have a look at the Chicks and their Mum. I don't know if I've ever said I love her, she is so beautiful. Would it be possible to see her next to a human to get an idea of her scale, because she always seems like the most enormous fluffiest hen I've ever seen! Love Vanessa xxx

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  13. So so cute! Posts like this make me tempted to hatch my own chicks but I can't bear the idea of what I'd do with the boys...

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  14. Good gravy! I'm a city girl, I guess. I had no idea that chicks or hens ate hard boiled eggs....I learned something new today, which is always a good sign.

    They are adorable, and the Mom is so beautiful and attentive. A wonderful beginning for these little ones.

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  15. Oh my what beautiful little chicks and such a glorious proud mama hen xox

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  16. Congratulations on the happy arrivals! Higgledy, Piggledy My Black Hen was be a very proud mother indeed.

    I simply wanted to say I love your work and I shall be making a purchase soon....

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  17. SO CUTE! What a great little film. Thankyou.

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  18. Glad I double-checked as I thought you had taken to having breakfast at the Co-Op!! They are sooooo cute!

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  19. Adorable!!!!!!! Hoping you get lots of girls!

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