Another happy chicken mama

Taken this morning.  You can't tell but that's a happy chicken face.

My old red ranger hen went broody about two weeks ago.  She was very serious about being a mother and was absolutely glued to her nest.  The thing is; we don't have a rooster anymore.  Since losing Nigel in the spring, getting rid of the devil booted bantam and finally losing Rocky to a coyote we are without a man out there.  Ladies don't really care, honestly.  But it doesn't make for fertile eggs.  So this little lady was sitting on eggs that weren't ever going to hatch. 

Enter the stork.  I posted an ad on Craigslist for day old birds but none showed up.  So I found a woman on Craigslist with older chicks for sale and asked if she had any young ones.  She did. 

$20 later:

Two Lavender Orpingtons, a laced Wyandotte and blue Cochin bantam.  I can't believe I forked over $20 for 4 chicks that will probably just get eaten by a coyote at some point but it was worth it.  It was so much fun to go out last night while she was sleeping and slip the babies under.  And then see her happy chicken face this morning.  Looking back through the blog I see that this hen is 3 years old and a good mom.  I really need to put a leg band on her.  She, along with my bantam hen mama, get full retirement plans and can stay here until they die of old age.