Moorhen chicks (1 Viewer)

[Peewit]

hi there

I was walking through Bedford park this afternoon and I could see three Moorhen chicks - very young ones. Still in their phase of looking like tiny black fluff balls.

One healthy one, and two smaller ones. :-O

All in all the chicks looked able to cope. They where robust and full of energy as far as I could see. They could move fast when they wanted too. :-O

What I would like to ask is is it a bit late to have a clutch of chicks in October or is this the normal for Moorhens?

Is this usual, or is it the security of having members of the public feeding the birds so they never go hungry?

Kathy
x

 

[Capercaillie71]

I saw a newly hatched brood of three moorhens on 15 August, and I thought that was quite late! I'm fairly sure it was a third brood, which according to BWP is unusual, but maybe the milder climate is prolonging the breeding season and leading to more multiple broods.

 

[halftwo]

Hi Kathy,

According to an old Collins (1968 Edition!):
Two broods, often three. Eggs or young Mar-April to Aug-Sept., but may occur exceptionally in any month.

H

 

[Peewit]

I saw a newly hatched brood of three moorhens on 15 August, and I thought that was quite late! I'm fairly sure it was a third brood, which according to BWP is unusual, but maybe the milder climate is prolonging the breeding season and leading to more multiple broods.

hi Capercaillie

August is late and October is 2 months on!. Wonder if the Moorhens in question had a 4th/5th brood. :eek!:
Three chicks are quite a lot to take care of - for this time of the year. :eek!:

Wow - as you say it may be that the climate is changing, and is affecting the birds breeding cycle.

I wonder if other native birds are going down this road?

Kathy
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[Peewit]

Hi Kathy,

According to an old Collins (1968 Edition!):
Two broods, often three. Eggs or young Mar-April to Aug-Sept., but may occur exceptionally in any month.

H

Hi Halftwo

Sorry crossed posts here

Thank you for your answer, so it appears that Moorhens can have offspring any time! :eek!:

Never knew that at all. Are any other wildFowl able to do this I wonder?

Kathy
x

 

[ColinD]

hi there

I was walking through Bedford park this afternoon and I could see three Moorhen chicks - very young ones. Still in their phase of looking like tiny black fluff balls.

One healthy one, and two smaller ones. :-O

What do you mean by the last line? Was "the healthy one" a lot bigger than the others? Did the two smaller chicks look ill?

 

[Peewit]

What do you mean by the last line? Was "the healthy one" a lot bigger than the others? Did the two smaller chicks look ill?

Hi Colin

I do not think they where unwell as such, as they looked quite sturdy from what I could see. My OH mentoned the word 'runt' but that was his turn of phrase

The 2 chicks looked smaller, or younger. Maybe they where a different brood, but they stuck together. They are very independant as youngsters go.

The parent bird could be seen feeding the larger one of the three.

Kathy
x

 

[ColinD]

Hi Colin

I do not think they where unwell as such, as they looked quite sturdy from what I could see. My OH mentoned the word 'runt' but that was his turn of phrase

The 2 chicks looked smaller, or younger. Maybe they where a different brood, but they stuck together. They are very independant as youngsters go.

The parent bird could be seen feeding the larger one of the three.

Kathy
x

The reason I asked is that Moorhen chicks from earlier broods are known to help their parents bring up the later broods. I just wondered if that was what you saw.

 

[Peewit]

The reason I asked is that Moorhen chicks from earlier broods are known to help their parents bring up the later broods. I just wondered if that was what you saw.

hi Colin

I think it is what I saw, so now the mystery has been solved

That is something I did not know myself about the family sharing activities of Moorhens. That must be a rare thing for most birds to do.

The things that you find out about Birds. :-O :t:

 

[Peewit]

http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=3217452

This link mentioned the fact about mother and daughter sharing responsibility/assistance of their offspring

As you have correctly said Colin it is how the breed of bird operates.