Chicks?

[GSP]

Me and my dad watched a hen Saturday that acted as if she had a brood of chicks. We watched her for over 2 hours circle within a 20 yd area of grass. She was 150 plus yds away and I watched her through binos (I could not verify chicks due to the gras/distance). She would stop and look in every direction and then cock her head sideways just like a hen chicken with a brood. She would circle a tight loop and then walk about 5 yds; then repeat.
I started doing the math, if she had started laying the first week of March, she would have 2 week+ old chicks on the ground. We had terrible rain Friday night, I looked as if she had them out to dry off, she came out of a steep, wooded bluff.

[FowlerHowler]

I saw something simlar on the first saturday of the season. I dont think she had chicks, but i am pretty sure she had a nest close to her because she cam out in the field a little ways and then kept a close eye. Then along came a coyote and she RAN HIM OFF! She kept walkin closer and closer to him while puffed up a bit and puttin to him and finnaly the yote ran the other way.

[KentuckyTracker]

I know last year during the Spring Squirrel season, I came upon a hen that had chics. But, that was in June! In my opinion, and from experience, it's too early for walking chics yet. In the past, hens usually don't have a brood until the very end of May or the beginning of June.

Especially since we have had this wet and cold weather lately. Chicks are usually succeptable to cold and damp conditions.

[turk2di]

I heard a hen imprinting her egg's Sunday. That low, nasal yelping from the same spot over a period of 2 hours. I know of hunters that have seen poults during the end of turkey season b4.