Hatching soon?

I noticed this morning that Ken the hen was no longer coming out of the coop to feed. This means that the last few days of the brood are finally here and, hopefully, one or both of those eggs will be hatchlings and soon working their way out of the shells!

I always move Ken into her own cage when the time is near, so she and the chicks will be safe from the older birds and I can easily give her food and water without her having to leave them on their own. When they hatch they will be stuck to her like glue for weeks, so giving her a safe place for them all is important.

Moving her wasn't easy though. Just picking the aggressive little madam up earned me a few more battle scars, and she trusts me! If she had to, she would kill a creature that threatened her eggs. This is how chickens have survived for millions of years - determination and aggression. Not all pullets or hens become a good broody, which may be best for you if you don't have a cockerel and don't plan to try to hatch eggs. So if you want to avoid a regular broody battle with a frustrated would-be nanny-hen, steer clear of bantam breeds. They're famous for their ability to hatch, and if they can't - they'll try to hatch anything!

In the picture, Ken, with no eggs to brood over, is stubbornly trying to hatch out a blue dustpan brush.