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.

Wednesday 1 June 2011

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


PS: Remember, you can click on the side-bar link and follow updates on Twitter #PPPHatch.

22 comments:

  1. Oh that is exciting. When they settle to hatch (rather than faff about and go off and on the nest) they do make great mothers don't they?

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  2. Oh I do hope so... this is her first time. My girls didn't want to know! so I've borrowed the services of my friend's gorgeous Black Cochin - isn't she a beauty :-)

    Celia
    x

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  3. fluffed every feather she could, didn't she? does heat & humidity bother a broody hen?

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  4. I love it when you do a chicken post. That is a beautiful bird and I am looking forward to seeing just what she is hatching.

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  5. Hi Petoskystone - it's sunny but not hot and not humid so she's fine. It would be a problem if temps/humidity were high.

    Hi Toffeeapple - she's a gorgeous hen! I'm so envious of my neighbour's Cochins (but I can call in any time to see them).

    There's no guarantee that the eggs will hatch but my fingers are crossed.

    Celia
    x

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  6. FANTASTIC! I've just watched the video, and I love the bit at the end where she wiggles her way over the eggs and settles down. She really is the most beautiful Hen I've ever seen, the sheen on her feathers, the fullness of her, she's spectacular. You must be so excited Celia! Love Vanessa xxx

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  7. I thought you'd enjoy it! Black Cochins are wonderful - like big feather pillows made of black silk!

    I was pleased she let me film the little shuffle :-)

    C

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  8. Celia, thanks to you and that gorgeous Black Cochin hen for letting us see the photos and video. I suspect that this is the closest I will ever get to seeing how egg hatching takes place!

    What a grand opportunity you have given your viewers. xo

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  9. That's lovely, hope you'll show us the chicks when they hatch! She is a beautiful hen.

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  10. I'm quite excited seeing this too! I love the painting you managed to buy yesterday.

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  11. oh Celia she is beautiful! And seeing her all broody made me miss my girls so much!! I can't wait to see them again (oh, and Mick too :)

    How many are you hoping for? Who's their daddy? Watching and waiting!

    Jacqui x

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  12. Oooooh ! Exciting ! Sorry, I can't contain myself, but one of our's is also sitting on eggs (hopefully fertilised by our Arthur II) for the last 2 days. Arthur is a white Cochin and the hen is half cochin, half something else.
    How do you get her to eat something and do you give her special tasty food ?

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  13. Hello. I've arrived here from Vanessa's blog and am very excited for you as we have just had two little ducklings hatch. It is just the best feeling! x

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  14. Oh, how I love chickens...she is beautiful and doing such a splendid job!!! Here by way of Vanessa...so glad she shared the link!!

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  15. Truly lovely! I am at the same stage with a beautiful buff cochin & a gold orpington- they are sharing three eggs & I'm so excited I could burst but I also know that it might not work out! fingers crossed for both of us! ...great blog...x

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  16. Oh she's so lovely taking such care with her charges - brought a lump to my throat!

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  17. Her eyes are so bright, her comb such a pretty red, and how gently she rolls the eggs beneath her.
    julie

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  18. Hey Celia, what a lovely, little video..........

    Our Dorking hatched 3 chicks last December, first time we've ever had chicks. Was so special observing the whole process. Would love to do it again.

    I do wonder what mum thinks about sitting there for 3 weeks............. It's such a long time to be just sitting.

    Sweet Birdy Love :}

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  19. So exciting! lovely to see her turning and rearranging the eggs underneath her. So gentle!

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  20. What a gorgeous hen. It reminds me of keeping hens and ducks at my last house. My children loved collecting the eggs, just as I used to on the farm I grew up on.

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  21. What a beautiful hen, her feathers look like black silk! I really enjoyed the video clip, she was so gentle with her eggs, she'll make a great mom!

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    Mary

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  22. Oddly coincidental- the last 2 blog posts I looked at and the movie I saw last night had chickens in them. Maybe a greater force is at work here... or not. I hope you'll post pics of the babies when they hatch, though.

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