Mother Hen

Mama's babies started hatching yesterday. It took me by surprise, since it didn't seem like 3 weeks had passed since she started sitting.

Last night there were only two: a pale silvery yellow chick, and a darker tan and brown.

This morning, when I went out to check, I could count nine babies lined up in front of Mama, looking out at the world.

This afternoon, it looks like two must have fallen out of the nesting box, so Mama is on the ground protecting them, while the rest (at least eleven!) sit up in the nest wondering what to do.

There is already a mother hen on the scene, but I can't help feel like a secondary mother hen, worrying over the whole brood.