Barn Surprises and Mama Hen Drama
- RedeemedCoop
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
Spring has been rolling right along here on the farm—and just when we thought things would be settling down, the chickens decided to give us a few surprises.
In early April we discovered a hen strategically hidden on a stash of eggs behind some hay bales in the barn. Since we weren’t sure how long she had been there we left her be and decided if no chicks hatched in a week, we would remove those eggs. Just a few days later when we walked into the barn to do chores, we were immediately greeted with the sound of little peeps coming from the hay stall. Mama hen hatched 10 sweet chicks, and we were quite happy to add those to our flock.
A few weeks later however, we walked into the barn to find 14 new chicks walking around with another mama hen!! She had gone full stealth mode, in the same stall but on the opposite side, behind a tarp. Completely hidden from our line of sight! I guess the hay stall hotel got five stars on Chicken Yelp.
So now we have 24 new chicks on the farm!! It is interesting to see how different mamas on the farm act. Mama hen #1 was on guard but once she knew I wasn’t there to cause any harm she would eat from my hand and allow me to feed her chicks too. Mama hen #2 WILL fight you! I have video evidence to prove it. Even after bringing food and water, she tried to kick me and the food.
Earning the trust of our animals is something I talk about often on here but sometimes no matter how you try, there could be one who doesn’t give their trust very easily. I will continue to work with this feisty mama until her or at least hopefully her chicks feel they can trust me to bring them food, water, and safety. But I’m not holding my breath… this is the same hen that fought off a hawk to protect her babies last year!
It’s these little surprises—both the sweet and the spicy—that keep life on the farm so full of wonder (and adrenaline). Watching these chicks grow up under the careful watch of their mamas has reminded me how much of farming is about observing, respecting, and adapting. Each animal has its own personality, its own boundaries, and its own way of doing things—and the best we can do is show up consistently, care faithfully, and learn to laugh a little when things don’t go quite as planned.
How can I pray for you?
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