Proud mum

Hidden beneath this little girl's wings is a tiny yellow chick hatched this morning. The mum has been sitting on a very small white egg for some weeks. Every day I check underneath to see if anything is happening. She also leaves the egg to go out for food and water, making a great fuss as she rushes around with her wings widespread.

Today, when I checked, there was the broken shell and the tiniest of chicks. I have now shut them up in the hutch as mum won't be leaving her baby, and they will stay on their own until hecor she is a bit bigger when i can move them into a more spacious enclosure.

Mother hens are very protective but I'm hoping she will let me take a family portrait.