Even Chook Moms Have Bad Days

[seatil]

Even chicken moms have bad days...

[wolga]

That's a fantastic shot !

[Kracka]

she needs a speech bubble - OUCH!

[eae]

Love it

[tishie11]

What was actually happening there?? But great pic definitely!

[seatil]

What was actually happening there??

The pic is part of a (much) longer video clip. In the video Flap has her head down eating with the chicks, then up comes her head with this chick attached to her wattle. Chicks flies a pretty good parabola and ends up splat on the ground wings splayed, then gets up and goes back to eating.

I was taking the video to record how relaxed these chicks are -- these are the chicks that one of my wildest pullets tried to hatch out in the shelterbelt and then later ate one during hatching. I was expecting them to still be pretty neurotic, even with my calmest broody (Flap) raising them, but nurture seems to be winning big time with them.

[sewren]

That photo is amazing - I can't stop chuckling! The look on both the chicks face and Flap's face are classic!

As an aside - I always notice that chicks tend to peck at their mum's wattle and eyes but can't think of a biological reason why this might happen; it seems counter-productive to blind your own mother! Any ideas...?

[seatil]

I'm pretty sure it's because they peck at anything that looks different to its surroundings and/or moves to see if it's a valid food item.

I didn't have a camera with me on the day where chicks were hanging from her eyelids!

[seatil]

Got around to clipping the funny part of the video out: https://youtu.be/VEFQdMev1XA

[Marina]

Wow - great video. Thanks for sharing

[sewren]

Ha ha - love the slowmo!

[Stel82]

Hiehie. Had a good chuckle.