Pipping

Pipping: To break through (the shell) in hatching (I just knew someone would ask).

Yesterday before leaving for a funeral I checked "Baby Banty." She's been sitting on eggs for about three weeks and had one hatch last Tuesday. Being a first time Mama, and not wanting to leave her other eggs she wasn't taking out her new little chick. I did see her outside the next day but no chick, so after checking the coop I found Baby Banty's Mama, "Mama Banty" sitting on, not only the new chick, but the eggs as well. I scooted her off the nest and set up a nursery for Baby Banty. After moving her there, putting in a chick waterer and feed, the poor little gaf wasn't flourishing the way most chicks do. I'm sure the chick was a bit premature too because it was the tiniest chick I've ever seen. I brought it in the house, bathed it, worked it's butt area, and blow dried it. I then put it in a box, named it "Bugs" and gave it food, water, and a heat light. After a day and a half Bugs was still small but certainly had improved health wise.

So getting back to yesterday... When I lifted up Baby Banty I saw and heard this:




It's sort of ironic to see new life emerging when I'm heading to a funeral to say goodbye to someone. A funeral makes one realize just how precious life really is and also just how short we are here. I will miss seeing Marla's smiling face, her contagious laughter, and tales of her grandchildren. My heart goes out to her husband, Bernie, a kind soul who has known me since I was born, and known my parents since before they were married to each other back in 1962. I'm sure Marla and Bernie were married for 40+ years and this will hit him hard. I spoke with him very briefly at the funeral yesterday and then took a Kleenex and wiped the tears from his face, he told me he loved me, kissed my hand, and for a fleeting moment all I could see was my own future. I do hope when I leave this world I can quote a line in a song by Randy Travis "I guess it's not what you take when you leave this world behind you. It's what you leave behind you when you go."

I made it back home about fours later and new life was waiting for me :) Still wet and a little disorientated but full of trust.

After checking "Bugs" inside the house and seeing just how much of an improvement he's made I decided to slip him under his Mama late last night, at least now he has company :) And I'm using the term "he" just for no reason because I do hope Bugs is a hen and not a rooster!
Today I am cleaning out the chicken coop and I'll try to post a picture of Bugs soon.

Update: Meet "Bugs." So what do you think... hen or rooster?

"Bugs" at 5 days old!