I watched an unassisted birth today, IRL!

[Almi]

Around 12:30 p.m. today, I began observing someone in labor.

As I watched, I noticed that she would lean forward and close her eyes, going deep within herself.  She stayed in this position for a while as she contracted, seemingly unaware of her companions around her.  Every now and then she opened her eyes, only for a second or two, only to go back to labor land.

After a little while, she began to pace around, still looking like she had a ball between her legs.  She paced slowly and aimlessly, stopping here and there.  Her companions didn't seem worried in the least.

Realizing it might be a while until birth was imminent (and knowing a watched pot doesn't boil), I went about my daily activities, but every now and then I looked in on her.  It seemed that most times I checked, she was walking around normally and just being herself.  Was it a false alarm?

Then about 20 minutes ago, my husband was home from work for supper, and I happened to look over at her, only to catch her as she popped a pretty little blue egg out!

That's right, I was watching one of my button quail hens.  What was really remarkable to me was how similar she looked to a laboring woman!  These little ladies push eggs out that are easily 1.5-2 times the size of their heads.  They have one of the biggest eggs compared to their bodies of all birds.  And to think they will do this every day for up to 16 days per clutch!  We humans don't know how good we have it.  Hahaha.

I have some pictures...I apologize for the horrible state of their cage, as they kick water and everything imaginable onto the glass.

Here's the hen I was watching.  She is my biggest hen, and gorgeous.

Her and another hen next to the pile of eggs (which several of them have been laying over the past few days, there are five hens total).  They actually had these laying all over the cage but gathered them up right before she added hers to the pile.

Here are the eggs...there were four at the beginning of the day today, and six (including hers) when I saw her lay her egg.  Apparently someone else added one while I was posting this, as I took the pictures after I wrote it.  Anyway, you can see her pretty blue egg! :)

[AbbieB]

Love it!

[cameragirl]

Too cute. I'm amazed by our chickens, especially when they somehow push out double yolkers. Those things look SERIOUSLY painful! It's also amazing that they can do that day after day. Glad I'm not a hen.

[Almi]

Haha!  The eggs definitely vary in size (particularly from hen to hen), but I've yet to encounter a double yolker!  Ouch!  I pushed my twins out one by one! :D