Sunday, September 17, 2006

Mother's Love No Matter What

Wilma and Betty just want to be mothers. They don't care about anything else. They steal the other hens eggs, they refuse to get off their nests, they scream at me and peck like crazy when I take the eggs. So I decided to let them be moms.... But to ducks! Sally may like sleeping around with Donald and Daffy but she also likes swimming and running around too much to stay at home on the nest. She had 17 eggs hid in the straw of her nesting box. She would go lay a egg and then move all her eggs around but never sit on them. I finally gathered them up and divided them between Wilma and Betty. Wilma is devoted to staying on her nest! She will scream and peck at any hen that comes near her. Betty on the other hand will sit on her nest very happy till another hen wants to borrow the nest to lay her egg there. (don't know why they like her nesting box so well) Betty will then get up and stand patiently by while the other hen lays her egg and will then go check the eggs and sit back on them. I have to pet Betty a few times then lift her up to get the hen eggs out. She doesn't scream as she happy that she gets to be a mommy. They both hatched baby chickens from other hens a couple months ago but I took them as soon as they were hatched and gave them to my neighbor. This time if the ducklings hatch I am going to let the banties keep them for a few weeks and be a mommy. I have talked to several people that have hatched ducklings with hens and they say it works fine. The only problem is when the ducklings go swimming the mommy hen will run around the water squawking till they get out. I will keep you posted on the adventures of the soon to be mommies.
Wilma is sitting on her nest and giving that don't you dare try to get on my nest look.
Betty has gotten up to let Henny Penny have her nest to lay her egg. I will get a picture of Betty sitting later today. Off to get Princess Di some antibiotics. She is has a respiratory infection which I was told is common when weather goes from really hot to cool and damp. We had several days of rain and cool weather so I will give her antibiotics and baby her. She is letting me hold and pet her but just for a minute or two then she wants down to sit in the sun.

10 comments:

Lisa Oceandreamer Swifka said...

I absolutely love to read about your animals...and their names too!!

Shell said...

Oh my, that is the funniest thing - and so darn cute! I didn't know that chickens could raise ducklings - who would have thought really? Ha! I used to have a chicken called Betty too - we only had two - Betty and Ethel. Betty used to peck Ethel's feathers out - it wasn't pretty. Happy days down in your chookhouse!

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Miss Robyn said...

I hate it when the hens get clucky! I won't go near them for fear of being pecked to death.
can't wait to see the babies - what a shock for the mamas ! xo

Jeanne said...

I love all your stories.
Blessings my sweet friend.
Love Jeanne

Laurie said...

Peggy, you are a good storyteller you know, you could write a childrens book about all the animal adventures! I look forward to reading more about the future mommies!

Heather Smith said...

I can't wait to hear about how this turns out!

Anonymous said...

Wow, it's like a chicken soap opera...lots of drama!

Donna B
(a/k/a ladyofblessings)

tlawwife said...

Ahh chicken stories. Love the stories don't miss the chickens.

Just wanted you to know I received my blanket today and it is wonderful! I know it didn't come from you but didn't really know where to send the thank-you.

Rosa said...

I wouldn't mess with that Wilma! I swear, she is a Wilma through and through!