This is a picture of two of the first ever chickens to be born here. On the right is the mother of one of them, Sussex (named after her breed). Several posts ago I told the story of how Sussex, who raised all three chickens under an old shed, suddenly became very distressed one day because she couldn’t find them. Then, the next day, we discovered that another hen, Malay (again, named after her breed), had ‘adopted’ them. Well, I think it’s pretty obvious now that they each hand a ‘hand’ in the motherhood stakes because one is identical to Sussex and the other two are identical to Malay.
They are feisty little chickens having been brought up entirely by both mothers with no human interference. I wanted to interfere and several people suggested I should put them in a brooder in the house with a heat lamp or they might not survive. Then one friend said, “What do you think chickens did before we domesticated them, hmmm?” Point taken!
jmgoyder 
I agree with your friend – too much human interference is not natural. But I might add that seeing little chicks who are sooooooooo cute means having to find strong willpower to abstain from taking a part in their upbringing.
Yes, but it has proved to me that they can survive rain, hail and shine (yes, we had hail at one point!), a lurking fox – I am so pleased!
Love your on-going series, this could be a reality show, you know !!
Ha!