[hillfooter]

Anastasia the little spangled Orloff hen is at it again.

I've just had to dispatch her last brood as all 3 turned out to be cockerals and my attempts to find a home for them proved unsuccessful.  No sooner had they gone when she did her usual disappearing trick.  At roost time she didn't join her other house mates though she did appear briefly the next day in the garden she again disappeared to, we know not where.  Several searches over the next few days failed to find her so we assumed she was sitting somewhere.

Well that was about two weeks ago and we hadn't seen her since so we were just being to think maybe she had met her end like her mother when Carole spotted her in the garden early in the morning.  Then she disappeared again before she could fetch me so she must be well hidden this time.  It's now over two weeks since she first disappeared so we are expecting to see her trooping about with a brood of chicks any day now with a bit of luck.

Hope they aren't all cocks again I'm fed up with having to dispatch her off spring.

Here she is with our cheeky robin looking on and waiting an opportunity to steal some corn.



HF

[Lindeggs]

Oh I can't wait to see Anastasia's new babies!  She has such pretty offspring.  What a shame the last lot were all boys.

Keep that camera handy, HF.  Any day now she will back with her brood and we will all want to see them!

[joyfull]

looking forward to seeing the new chicks soon 

[hillfooter]

Well I posted that Anastasia had disappeared on the 20th and said she'd been missing 2 weeks, apart from two brief appearances on the back lawn .  So today was the 21st day.  I had a strewd suspiction as the free ranger hens knew something was up judging by their behaviour.  The Cream Legbar was picking up grass seed Carole had sown and was dropping it again with a loud clicking noise.  The sort of thing a hen does to encourage her chx to eat.  I suspected they had hatched and weren't far away so I put out some turkey crumbs which was all I had and some water and kept my eyes open today.  Sure enough this afternoon she appeared in the orchard.  With.................














In case you couldn't count them there are 9 chicks.

I gave them some turkey crumbs and they tucked in like there was no tomorrow as did Anastasia our little princess.  She's only tiny herself so it's amazing she can cover so many.

They are now in a temporary broody coop in the garden.
She couldn't have picked a better day for it it's positively hot here today.  Let's hope they all don't turn out to be cockerels again and if they all turn out to be hens I'm taking orders!

HF

[evie2]

Wow, aren't they the cutest wee things ever :happy: she's a good'un HF 

[Lindeggs]

HOORAY!  She really does make lovely chicks, doesn't she!  And your photos, as usual, are stunning HF.

I will put my order in now for a couple of mini-Anastasias please.

[JaK]

Lovely pics HF. Will keep my fingers crossed that you have lot's of girls this time.

[Sue33]

awww bless, can't resist fluffy chicks - what a clever mummy 

[bantam novice]

Well done Anastasia, they are lovely 

[sarajane]

Aaaah, beautiful and doesn't she just look like the proudest of Mums 

[ANHBUC]

Brilliant, well done Anastasia.  Fingers crossed for all girls.

Thanks for the head count, I only managed to count 8!   

[hillfooter]

Brilliant, well done Anastasia.  Fingers crossed for all girls.

Thanks for the head count, I only managed to count 8!   

Count them on the second photo down
HF

[ANHBUC]

Brilliant, well done Anastasia.  Fingers crossed for all girls.

Thanks for the head count, I only managed to count 8!   

Count them on the second photo down
HF

Got it that time, its like one of those "see how many you can spot in the picture" competitions.   

[Lindeggs]

How many jellybeans are in the jar?

[Spana]

Ah, nice little plump chicks  :happy:

They seem to do so well when they're just left to get on with it dont they