Lacey and Company

Lacey's Littles are getting big. At 5 1/2 weeks old, they are stretching tall. Their Soft Down is being replaced by Pin Feathers. A bit awkward and ungainly in appearance, they have that "teenager" look.

Melanie noted the Littles are now so big that Lacey cannot sit on all of them when they settle down for the Evening. They just won't fit.

During the Day, Lacey routinely has them out and about in the yard. They are often at the "edge", where the Tall Weeds grow. That must be the best place for Bugs and other Delicious Delights.

Lacey and Company mingle in the yard where the other Chickens roam. However, Lacey has made it clear that the other Hennies and their Rooster must not get close. Richard came upon an encounter where Lacey had flogged another Chicken and was actually standing on top of that Hen. Mothers are quite protective of their Young. That's a known fact. It surely must be hard-wired into us.

Lacey has all 5 of the Littles that hatched. Of those Chicks, 4 are Males and 1 is a Female. (We had hoped for more Females to add to our Laying Flock.) Melanie made that assessment as to Gender in the 2-3 days after hatch. Females develop their Tails more quickly than Males. Her early assessment has proven true.

Yesterday, I decided to take some pictures of Lacey and the Littles. I headed out into the Yard near the Chicken Coop, which was where I knew them to be. I could not find them. I listened quietly and heard her distinctive and consistent "Cluck...Cluck...Cluck". Sure enough, there they were.

For the Photo Shoot, I brought a crust of Bread, because such offerings are the best way to get close. Lacey would pick up a piece and make a specific noise which must be Hen Speak for "Food". With that characteristic sound, the Littles would turn on a dime to head over. Sometimes they would pick up the Bread from the Ground around her. Other times, they would take it from her Beak.

We have been pondering how these Littles will be different as Adults than the Ones we Humans have raised. We have no doubt that their Energy Level and their Vibrancy will be different. It already is. They are also far less centered on their Human Companions. That, to me, is a good thing.

We have concluded that Hens are the best Mothers for Chickens. Humans should at best take only the back seat.