New Life Under Mother's Wings – A Village Xperience
AssalamuAlaikum & Greetings Hive Family!
It's me @amjadsharif
This morning, when I went to see the chickens in my yard like every day, a special sound caught my attention. There were soft "chirps". When I got closer, I saw tiny chicks had hatched from under my black hen.
This is the same hen that had been sitting on the eggs continuously for the past twenty-one days. I used to watch her every day, but today's scene was completely different. New life was moving under her wings.
The normal incubation period of chicken eggs is about 21 days. During this time, the hen moves very little. She only gets up for a few minutes to eat and drink and immediately returns to provide her warmth to the eggs.
I myself observed that:
She does not leave the eggs even in the rain and cold wind.
It immediately takes a defensive stance when another animal comes close.
It protects the eggs with its body heat.
Nature has given the mother a special responsibility, which she fulfills with all honesty.
When the eggs were broken today, some of the chicks had completely hatched, while a few eggs are still there. A slight ticking sound is coming from them, which means that they will also hatch soon.
A few important things about the newly hatched chicks:
They do not need additional food for the first 24 hours.
They get energy from the egg yolk.
They start walking within a few hours.
They get heat by staying close to the mother.
This natural system is truly amazing.
This is not a big poultry farm. No machines, no electric incubators. Just a simple pot, dry grass and mother's love.
Such scenes are common in village life, but every time they give a new feeling to the heart. We feel life more realistically by being close to nature.
This whole process taught me a few important lessons:
Without patience, there is no result.
Responsibility is the basis of success.
The system of nature is based on perfect balance.
There is happiness in simplicity too.
After twenty-one days of silent labor, today I got to see this happiness. This is not just the birth of chicks, but the result of patience and hard work.
Now my effort is to:
Keep clean water close for the hen and chicks.
Provide soft grain in the initial days.
Make arrangements to protect them from cold or rain.
Keep an eye on the remaining eggs as well.
God willing, as soon as the remaining chicks hatch, I will share the update again.
The true beauty of life lies in these simple moments. A mother hen hiding her chicks in her wings makes us realize that love and responsibility are not limited to humans.
Today, new life has opened its eyes in my yard, and this scene will remain in my heart forever.
If you also like village life and natural farming, then do give your feedback.
Amjad Sharif is an experienced farmer, educated agricultural expert, amateur gardener, and tourist person. He specializes in modern and natural ways of agriculture. He presents his experiences and highlights of rural life in a simple and informative manner on Hive.
Thank you!
It's interesting how the hen stays calm even though you're so close to her and her chicks.
I also found it interesting how you put the food nearby so she doesn't have to move around much; I've never seen anything like it. Congratulations on this new batch of chicks!
A hen's calmness is a sign of her confidence, and keeping the food close is better for the comfort and safety of both the mother and the chicks.
I'm glad it's like that!
Wow, what a beautiful lesson... I didn't know that about the process of the eggs. In my country, overprotective mothers are called 'you look like a mother hen' and now I see that it comes from the method of incubation and protection during the first days. Thank you for sharing the experience.