Something Sweet and Fragile —- Monday, June 25, 2018

Posted on June 25, 2018 by Dayphoto

We have this darling little nest out in the tractor shed….where one set of hatchlings have already occurred

There are three nests there, but only one female sitting. No true leisure for her.

Then letting the hen out of the hen house yesterday morning, I realized I had somehow trapped a hummingbird in with the hen overnight.

Well, that’s not a good thing I thought to myself.

Then later on in the afternoon, while laying fresh bedding down, a hummingbird buzzed my head…in the chicken house!

Non-plussed I wondered…what is going on here?!

Looking around to see what would be the attraction of little hummer to a chicken house

I found…

Another solid little nest, complete with a tiny graceful female hummingbird.

Now the paradox has begun

How to keep the chicken safe from predators at night, allow the hummingbird to feed as long as possible (they feed until dark) and get out early enough (they start feeding at first light) and keep the hen safe.

So at first light, I rush out to the hen house, open the door. Then at the very tail end of last light, I shut the door, even though the hen has been abed for a little while.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

43 thoughts on “Something Sweet and Fragile —- Monday, June 25, 2018”

insearchofitall on June 25, 2018 at 9:24 am said:

I have never seen a humming bird nest! Wow! You were wise to figure out how to protect everyone there. Hope it works. Wonder why they decided to nest with the hen?

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- dayphoto on June 25, 2018 at 9:32 am said:
  
  I don’t know. It’s a first for me!
  
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seniorhiker on June 25, 2018 at 9:25 am said:

You’re definitely making good care of that hummingbird family even though it is keeping you extra busy. You are a good ‘mommy’.

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- dayphoto on June 25, 2018 at 9:31 am said:
  
  I hope to see them fledge!!
  
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Far Side on June 25, 2018 at 9:27 am said:

Well that was a safe place to build a nest and you are the gatekeeper:)

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- dayphoto on June 25, 2018 at 9:31 am said:
  
  I am. The gatekeeper for hummingbirds!
  
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Emily Summer on June 25, 2018 at 9:55 am said:

So sweet…the hummingbird and you. You are one of the kindest people in the world!

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- dayphoto on June 26, 2018 at 10:22 am said:
  
  Oh! I do love the wondrous little things that live among us. Thank you, Emily!
  
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Saundra Loman on June 25, 2018 at 10:00 am said:

You are such a caring & respectful gaurdian of your environment. Love the photos. Sandy

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- dayphoto on June 26, 2018 at 10:21 am said:
  
  They are such a huge part of everyday happiness, Sandy. But you know that already!
  
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Leenie on June 25, 2018 at 10:59 am said:

Amazing little hummers you have for neighbors! Good on you for caring so much about the nesting mommas.

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- dayphoto on June 26, 2018 at 10:21 am said:
  
  I hope to get to see the hatchlings! What a rush that will be!
  
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Jane Sturgeon on June 25, 2018 at 11:33 am said:

Oh Linda, bless you for your awareness and loving care. ❤

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- dayphoto on June 26, 2018 at 10:21 am said:
  
  Oh, Thank you, Jane!
  
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Genevieve Petrillo on June 25, 2018 at 12:40 pm said:

What a dilemma. Isn’t there some sort of chicken wire fencing that you could devise so the chicken stays in, the critters stay out, and the bird can come and go on his own schedule?

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- dayphoto on June 26, 2018 at 10:20 am said:
  
  I wish there were. The hen is great friends with Boomer so they hang together most of the day. It’s the early morning late evening thing that I will have to work on.
  
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Jan on June 25, 2018 at 1:50 pm said:

What a wonderful friend to the birds you are.

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- dayphoto on June 26, 2018 at 10:18 am said:
  
  I hope so…this is a first for me!
  
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katechiconi on June 25, 2018 at 2:06 pm said:

Clearly she has decided you’re not one of the bad guys…

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- dayphoto on June 26, 2018 at 10:17 am said:
  
  I guess so!
  
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tonytomeo on June 25, 2018 at 2:34 pm said:

Oh goodness; of all places to build their nest!
Someday, I will write about all the birds that used to nest inside my home in town. I hate screens, but birds could be a problem without them. I still can not understand why they wanted to live inside the house rather than outside. It really seemed unnatural.

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- dayphoto on June 26, 2018 at 10:17 am said:
  
  I think you are a magnate!
  
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CarolMaeWY on June 25, 2018 at 2:52 pm said:

Would a small hole in the door create other problems?

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- dayphoto on June 26, 2018 at 10:17 am said:
  
  I’m afraid of the skunks, raccoons, fox, coyotes getting my hen. 😦
  
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  - CarolMaeWY on June 26, 2018 at 12:39 pm said:
    
    I was thinking of a very small one in the upper part of the door so only the hummingbird could fly in and out. . .
    
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    - dayphoto on June 26, 2018 at 1:46 pm said:
      
      It is a great thought. Thank you, Carol.
      
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CarolMaeWY on June 25, 2018 at 2:54 pm said:

P.S. you’re so luck6 to have hummingbirds. We had a nest once. They really only pass through here even though I have lots of flowers for hummingbirds.

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- dayphoto on June 26, 2018 at 10:16 am said:
  
  When the Rufus come I know they will be leaving soon. The Rufus usually show up in August.
  
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Denny on June 25, 2018 at 4:52 pm said:

You’re so lucky. I’d love to see a hummingbird raise a clutch.

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- dayphoto on June 26, 2018 at 10:16 am said:
  
  I hope I can keep a good photo record for all of us!
  
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diane in northern wis on June 25, 2018 at 7:04 pm said:

Whew. Good job Linda. Hope those little nestlings flit away soon so you don’t have to keep this routine up for very long. How smart of you to figure this all out!

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- dayphoto on June 26, 2018 at 10:15 am said:
  
  They have about three broods a summer so me thinks it will be a long spell until September, but I can do it! 🙂
  
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The Daily Cure on June 26, 2018 at 12:05 am said:

Sweet birds. Lucky to have you looking after them.

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- dayphoto on June 26, 2018 at 10:15 am said:
  
  I just have to make sure the hen doesn’t harm the babies when they fleg!
  
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threecollie on June 26, 2018 at 5:17 am said:

You are such a good person.

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- dayphoto on June 26, 2018 at 10:14 am said:
  
  A soft heart for a momma and her brood!
  
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thecrazysheeplady on June 27, 2018 at 11:35 am said:

And this has made my day :-D. Love you!

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- dayphoto on June 28, 2018 at 9:30 am said:
  
  You made MY day! 🙂
  
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valeriedavies on June 27, 2018 at 3:53 pm said:

I understand your dilemma completely… I was always adjusting our life to the nesting birds in our last house… here in the forest it’s different…keep us posted, won’t you XXXXX

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- dayphoto on June 28, 2018 at 9:29 am said:
  
  I will…photos if I can get them! 🙂
  
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Julie@frogpondfarm on July 1, 2018 at 12:55 am said:

Oh you are wonderful .. how nice to be able to care for your hen and let Mrs Hummingbird get out for some tucker! 😃

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- dayphoto on July 1, 2018 at 8:02 am said:
  
  I hope I can see the babies soon
  
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Julie@frogpondfarm on July 1, 2018 at 12:57 am said:

Love that last photo …

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