Bantam not chicken

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33453, 7 February 1974, Page 14

Bantam not chicken

The protectiveness of a mother for her cubs, or a hen for her brood is well known, but a Templeton bantam has proved she is no light-weight when it comes to protecting her clutch of unhatched eggs. The bantam chose as a secure nest the internal framework of a hay baler. Secure it was, until 12 days ago when the baler was needed. It was hitched to a tractor and towed three miles to Yaldhurst where for 10 hours it was used to bale hay; 1600 bales went through that day.

Undetected, the bantam remained on her eggs all the time. She was perched high in the frame only six inches from a racing cog and chain while the baler bounced around the paddock with a noise which must have been deafening to the bird. Then work was stopped for the day. Because of the Games and wet weather nothing more was done until yesterday when the last of the hay, another 600 bales, was put through. And still the little bird remained on her eggs.

Her presence was discovered just before the bailer was prepared for the tow back to Templeton. She could not be persuaded to leave the nest to which she had clung during her terrifying experience and she is still there, sitting on her eggs. I’he eggs appear to be about two days from hatching, but whether or not the embryo chickens will survive the rigours of their unusual incubation will be something known only after the eggs have hatched.