Category: Raising Chicks

What is this? The woods in the spring? That and much more. That and a perfect nursery for a mother hen to raise her chicks. Somewhere in that thick brush is Skunky, its siblings and its mother.

There’s Skunky, watching carefully, so it can snatch any good earthworm or grub its mother digs out of the forest floor. There are very few chicks who at 10 days old get to spend all day outdoors eating good things their mother finds for them. It sure beats living under a heat lamp eating chick starter with no mother around to care for you.

Growing up this way, is one reason the eggs, the hens at a man and his hoe® lay, taste so good. Raising hens who lay wonderful eggs starts from when they are this small. As they sit on their nests, their minds are full of wonderful childhood memories. When they close their eyes, they can hear their mother’s call. That’s one reason their eggs are so good.



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It’s not the disaster it sounds like. The “skunk” in question is one of the new chicks. It’s striped like a skunk. I’m tempted to call it Skunky, however, as its feathers come in, the stripes will disappear. The colors and patterns on baby chicks often change dramatically as they grow up.

The black stripe streaking out of its eye makes an impression. When it’s outside, this chick is easy to spot.

Lucky set her chicks free today. Just yesterday, they were all together, but this morning she was by herself, and her chicks off on their own. All I can say is, “Job well done, Lucky!”

What does a mother hen feel when her chicks leave home to fend for themselves? What about the chicks? Are they finally glad to be out from under their mother’s feet? Or is it a non-event for them?

Below is a series of photos from when she hatched them on September 15, 2014 through November 17, 2014. They’ll give you and idea as to how hard a mother works, raising her brood.

And as dusk settles, Lucky is back roosting with the rest of the hens for the first time in 12 weeks, while her chicks are bedding down where she used to spend the nights with them. Well done, Lucky. You were a superb mother. Your chicks were lucky to have you hatch and raise them.

A cold, frosty morning doesn’t stop Miasa from taking her chicks out hunting. At the crack of dawn, she has the little buggers whipped into shape and ready for adventure. With their downy jackets, the cold doesn’t faze the five day old chicks. That’s right, these chicks are just five days old.

You never hear people say, “Be as resolute as a chicken,” but that’s because almost no one knows how determined these mighty birds are. And they do all of this with bare feet to boot. No shoes or socks for these intrepid birds. Many people are so delicate, they even wear socks and shoes indoors. Can you imagine that?

The warm, midday sun provides a break from the cold. It’s time to rest and preen and enjoy some down time.

After a short break, basking in the warm midday sun, it’s time to go hunting again.