Saw this on http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Badger-Farms-llc-Natural-Chicks-and-Pullets/132013146967751  and HAD to share!

Quick update:
We got a few new chickens this week.  "Della" a Delaware hen that I found for free on Craigslist needed some rescuing.  She was being picked on by the other birds in her backyard flock, and went blind in one eye. :-(  She seems to be adjusting nicely with the other 2 hens, that were spared when Boston (a.k.a. "Chicken Killa) feasted on chicken last weekend.

So right now, we have 3 hens (1 Delaware, 1 Sexlink, and 1 Bantam Cochin).  Our Broody bird decided to give up on sitting on her nest, so I grabbed the eggs and stuck them in the incubator, but I'm pretty sure they're a lost cause.  Hopefully the other 36+ eggs hatch on 2/28 or 3/1.

Yesterday, we got 3 new chicks.  They are all about 2 weeks old.  2 Black Jersey Giants (my FAV!!) and 1 Cuckoo Maren.  I'll post pics, soon.

Also, seeds have been started inside for our yet to be started garden.  Waiting on tomatoes, peppers, broccoli and cauliflower to sprout.

Have a Happy Valentine's day, everyone :-)

The first "batch"

2/6/13:
Impatiently waiting the obligatory 12 hours before I can put these under my broody chicken's butt! 3 Easter Egger eggs, 2 Maran eggs, 1 Cream Legbar, and 1 Cream Legbar cross.  I also included one egg from our own flock, which is a Speckled sexlink/bantam Cochin cross.  *fingers crossed*

Tomorrow morning, I'll put them under our Bantam Cochin and we'll see what hatches in 22 days!

2/7/13:
Woke up bright and early to get those eggs under the momma chicken!  Here are the 12 not so easy steps to placing eggs under a broody hen, please note, you might find a better method via google...try my method at your own risk ;-)

Step 1: Put garden gloves on, because touching chickens makes me squimish.
Step 2: Recruit 8yr old daughter to carry eggs outside.
Step 3: Go into coop and remove broody hen from the nesting box in the kennel (she's been separated from the other chickens for about 5 days as this point)
Step 4: Pray she doesn't peck you when you grab her out. (My prayers were answered! Hallelujah!)
Step 5: Set the broody chicken down in the coop (this may have been my first mistake... :-/)
Step 6: Scream "oh crap! Rooster! Leave her alone!"
Step 7: Panic and chase the rooster away from your broody chicken while simultaneously yelling at daughter to "Hurry and put the eggs in the damn nest."
Step 8: Climb through very little opening to catch the broody chicken, which is still being attacked/raped by the rooster.
Step 9: Catch the hen.
Step 10: Place the hen back in the kennel and slam the door in her face when she tries to escape.
Step 11: Take a deep breath, walk into garage, remove gloves.
Step 12: Go back out in an hour and make sure everything has settled down, and that the hen is incubating the eggs!  SUCCESS!!!

Momma Chicken :-)

The rapist

After all that, I sure am hoping that we get at least a chick or two by 2/28/13!