News from the coop

Of my three Silkie hens it is Ducky who is the most lovable. When she was only a few weeks old she came down with a cold and was coughing, sneezing and had a runny nose. I had never heard a chick cough or sneeze, never knew chickens got sick like this. I didn't know it was just a cold though, I thought it was Newcastle or something else that would kill her. Because she didn't perish within 24 hours I figured she had nothing serious. However, I was kept distressed because a sick chick struggling to breathe is a sad thing to see. I fed her garlic, electrolytes, a bit of yogurt and vinegar. Anything that I could think of to make her better. I sat up with her on my lap trying to keep still and quiet so she could get some sleep. She wasn't resting with all the other healthy chicks running all over her. She was held a lot during this time and I think that is why she is not skittish when it comes to being picked up. She is as strong and fearless as her roo brothers.

Nothing sadder than a depressed looking hen just slumping on the nest while the rest are having fun taking dust baths. The other two, feathered ladies are so much thinner and have never gone broody. All living things have a personality. The Silkie Bantam hen was bred to brood and it's their instinct. That being said, I have seen a happy hen sitting on her clutch knowing one day her family will emerge. Ducky sits on eggs that PeeWee and Fuzztop lay for our breakfast. They get collected and she is left sitting on hay. I have noticed her expression change and her posture slump more and more. Ducky is milquetoast and that's not her.

She was broody for a few weeks last fall and I was able to get her to come out of it. She has gone broody again and I don't see her coming out of it until she hatches babies. Of all the hens, Ducky fits the classic, mama hen silhouette. She is a born mommy though not even a year old herself. So I found Ducky a few fertile eggs and I'll be sneaking them under her in the middle of her night, which is 8ish, 9ish. In three weeks, if we are all lucky, we'll have some baby chicks. I have a home for a roo, in the event we get one. I am excited for Ducky, It will be nice to see her sitting on a real clutch and not crying every time I get our eggs for the day. I am hoping next time she goes into a serious brood , she can help hatch some chicks or game birds for someone.

PS: The three hens can be seen this evening on the five o'clock news. Fox 7 came to interview them. Ducky was on her nest brooding while the other two were giving shout outs.