Chicks hit the road

Mama hen was still making a big mess stirring up all the hay and pine shavings into the food and water in the new big dog crate. And she broke up the last 2 eggs she was sitting on, probably a day or 2 before they were ready to hatch.

I was cleaning up this mess when she saw an opportunity and jumped ship. I couldn't catch her, so I had to put the big crate on the floor so she could get to her chicks.

She was good about staying with them on the floor of the big coop while dust bathing her dirty old self. (last pic) She was not so good about going in the crate at night with them, but when I put her in there, the littles ran in after her.

On the third day, brazen little mom that she is, she got tired of the dusty coop and took the chicks on the road with her...all the way back to the house! These little egg-size babies followed momma through grass that is taller than they are, at least 500 feet back to the goat barns, and then right up on the front porch here at the house.

At least she managed to get them home safely and even back in the crate last night. Let's pray it goes like that today as well. Keep an eye on them Mama!