Chicks!

{UPDATE: Turns out at least one of the other hens figured out a way to get into the brooder pen - up there between the winter heat lamp and the brooder fence was an opening!!! As of last night there were 12 eggs in the nest. Now there are none, YF had finished setting and abandoned the nest. And I fixed the area - we'll see if the mystery  hen figures it out. On a plus side - we did get 6 eggs today for the fridge!}

We have chicks!!! Our old banty hen who doesn't lay eggs anymore, Yellow Feather, went broody and surrogate hatched 9 eggs! The amazing thing was finding 11 more eggs still in the nest! The other hens were busy helping YF hatch the eggs when she would take a break! :) She is such a good mama. Enough words - here's some pictures. :)

Safe and sound in their brooder house inside the big chicken condo. The older chicks love to jump up on "Mama" and ride around. :) The first time we've had chicks hatch. There's a mix of Americauna/New Hampshire Red crosses and Welsummer/New Hampshire Red crosses. Here's some pics of the Papa, "George", that Mr. S caught during the wild chicken chase at last year's County Fair, and the Hens.

Precious (Welsummer) and George (New Hampshire Red)

George with the Americaunas and a black sex-link.

*Please do not republish pictures without our permission. Thanks!