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