Our Jungle fowl project started after the hen disappeared. We thought for sure she had become owl feed. A month later we discovered her nest behind the wood chipper in the pole barn. There she sat on 12 eggs!

Once in awhile she would leave the nest and scurry down to the barnyard at feeding time to grab a bite. Then she would run top speed back to the nest. After a couple of weeks, she appeared again outside the pole barn with 12 chicks weaving in and out around her legs. Non-stop peeping as she took them in and out of the woods and into the grass, showing them how to forage and scratch for bugs and seeds. What a priceless life experience for the 12 little Junglefowl chicks!

Indian Red Junglefowl are the true ancestors of all domestic chickens. They are smaller in size than domestic birds. The male has beautiful tail plumage, red, gold, and shiny green. And the hen’s feathers are a natural camouflage.

Red Junglefowl are strong flyers. They roost high in trees or under low bushes to avoid predators.

Mama Hen and her twelve babies have been exploring the front orchard at Bent Pine for a week now. Yesterday, Mama Hen moved her nest from the pole barn down to the barnyard. The family traveled around visiting the goat pens trying to decide the best spot for a new nest. They finally settled on Cow’s pen which is sunny and a little larger than the others, with lots of nice soft hay for nesting.

Welcome to the barnyard Mama Hen and chicks!

Happy Homesteading,

T.