My Edible Garden

I've been gardening for most of my life and have been a devoted fan of organic gardening the whole time. It just makes so much more sense to work in harmony with Mother Nature than to fight her. Besides which it is better for the planet and better for our bodies. Here you can see what I'm planting and harvesting, with gardening hints and resources thrown in for good measure.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

One Spoilt Chick

what did you say son?

About a month ago I set some eggs under a very determined broody hen, one I just couldn't seem to break from her broodiness. I also set some shipped Welsummer eggs in my incubator. Shipped eggs have a notoriously low hatch rate. Seriously, if you get 30% or more hatch rate then you are doing good.

Well the post office was not kind to these eggs, one smashed and another cracked; most of them seem to have been scrambled. Out of 14 eggs shipped I got exactly ONE little chick.

Meanwhile broody girl was sitting tight on her eggs but for whatever reason, none of hers hatched. Finally at dusk I took the eggs out from under her and slipped her the poor lonesome little Wellie chick. Pretty sure he's a he and he's one week old today.

See? Look! right there! it's a bug!
Broody mamma is doing an excellent job taking care of this baby, keeping him warm at night and showing him how to scratch and hunt bugs.





Standing tall!





I have some more eggs in the incubator that are due in a couple of weeks. I might see if broody mamma will take on a few more chicks when they hatch.