Motherhood for Ms Barnevelder!

Ms Barnevelder hatched out a few chicks who didn't survive, sadly.  Undeterred she got right back up and set for another 21 days... Success!  She's now the proud mama to 6 biddies, one of whom is a teensy Serama.  Congratulations, Ms B.

Here is Ms Cuckoo Maran with her 13 biddies and Ms Barnevelder #1 with her surviving 4 chicks.  Ms Maran and Ms Silkie hatched chicks at the same time in adjoining boxes.  Chicks and Mamas bond even before hatching to their peeps and clucks... and these chicks couldn't tell which Mama was theirs.  Mama wars ensued, with little Ms Silkie loosing all but two babies.  Ms Maran is quite capable of mothering all, and the babies sleep with her at night.  Many of my chicken co-mother chicks, especially silkies, who will co-brood a nest and then share the biddies.