To start, I would like to quote a well known site (est. 1828) Merriam-Webster, defining a Mother Hen:
“ A person who assumes an overly protective maternal attitude”
Keep this powerful and enigmatic statement in your mind as I explore the marvellous Mothers of Chicken Corner.
The late season Mothers include the Light Sussex with her famous five gathering and the Lavender Araucana with the three Musketeers! The extent of their unconditional love for their offspring is quite extraordinary.. well, at least in comparison to the Silkie who has decided her chick must make her own way in life; interpreted as a Bear Grylls survival technique of hiding under a shed at night. Plus, there is the unfortunate Pekin case, as her chick suddenly passed away in the night (and went to the other farm). I say ‘suddenly’ – he had been looking a bit dodgy for a couple of days and like an unhappy cat, had taken himself off to rest in peace.. but I discovered him and put him in the shed with his Mother. They spent his final hours together.
..but back to the Sussex and Araucana chicks, who are more like adolescent teenagers, typically still very dependent on their Mothers. She still cuts up their food (grinding it up in her mouth and spitting it out for them) and runs their bath (finding good soil for a perfect dust bath). In her eyes, they are perfect: even though, in my humble opinion, they are going through that ratty-looking stage!
I’m just so surprised by their dedication; they have overcome every obstacle Mother Nature (pardon the pun) has thrown at them. Normally once a hen starts the cycle of laying eggs again, it marks the end of her mothering duties, its her saying “I’ve moved on .. you should too” and her Motherly communicative clucking cease. Alas, they have shattered this theory, as far as terminating the egg laying process again!
The two families live side-by-side in Chicken Corner, in a little location that the Sat-Nav would class as an ‘unknown road’. Who can trust a Sat-Nav these days when it calls our village a ‘city-centre’! .. Anyway the families fill their time with various NCT meetings, discussing all things KIDS! But like most Mothers, they like to have plenty of quality time with their offspring (and this I feel has gone on for way too long)!
So, I think my hens truly represent the Merriam-Webster’s (est. 1828) inspiring quote.
The situation may be manic, however, they are very special relationships to watch and I wait in anticipation for what is to come for these special families at Chicken Corner.
Bye chicks x
Written: 17th October 2017
