Thank goodness a break!  No new ones hatched in the last 12 hours, but still have several pecking and scratching inside the shells.  The "pecking order" has already started with the first born being king of the roost.  It mothers each and everyone and attacks my hand on a regular basis, but eventually just sprawls out and takes a rest with its little head laying down on the back of my hand.  The first born is also trying to assist each little chick with the birthing process and even pulled the shell off yesterday.  When one little chick poked nothing but its beak out of the little hole in the egg, it was promptly pecked for its effort.  It is also the one to peck the others if they interfer in its assumed duties. 

We probably will get another dozen out of this batch of eggs, maybe more but no one knows what is going on inside those little shell houses. 

Meanwhile, the biddies we purchased at the Buggytown Auction have rapidly out grown their pen and two have been released into the barn with an "escape" pen handy for those times the chickens decide they look good enough to eat.  I also feed them in this pen to ensure they get enough to eat. 

The laying hens and rooster have enjoyed apple cores and lettuce this week.  They really enjoy these treats.  When one pecks the apple core the others will chase it around.  These ladies will then toss the core into the air and let another catch it and once again the chase is on.  Majestic, the dominate rooster, will run a bit and then stop and look around to see if anyone caught his antics.  He is so arrogant! 

Thanks for dropping in.  More updates are pending as are the little broken shells!

Happy Reading!
Belle