When it comes to the animal kingdom, the love and dedication of a mother is unparalleled. And one mother hen’s heroic act during a heavy storm is a testament to this unwavering dedication. In a display of selflessness, she sacrificed herself to become an umbrella for her chicks and shielded them from the harsh weather.
The mother hen in this story is no exception when she and her chicks got caught in a storm.
The footage shows a group of tiny chicks huddled around their mother hen. Some walk in the rain … others hide under their mom to stay dry. Once the heavy drops started to fall, they all rushed to their mom for help.
Sᴀᴄʀɪꜰɪᴄɪɴɢ her own comfort, the mother bird is spreading her wings over them; acting as a living umbrella for her brood during a heavy downpour. Like many parents, she doesn’t care about her feathers being soaked by the raindrops; she only cares about keeping her little ones warm, dry and cosy.
According to LiveScience, hens will give a physical reaction when their chicks are in ᴅɪsᴛʀᴇss; suggesting they empathise with their feelings. Research reportedly shows how hens which have separated from their chicks – but can still see, smell and hear them – are more attentive to their surroundings when researchers directed a puff of air at them.
However, when their chicks were the target of the puff of air, the mother hen’s response was more intense; equivalent to a ‘ꜰɪɢʜᴛ or flight’ reaction. The hens’ heart rates increased, with their temperatures changing accordingly. This was even the case when chicks weren’t calling out in ᴅɪsᴛʀᴇss.
In fact, plenty of mothers in nature will do whatever they can to protect their young and put their needs first. Giant anteaters carry their young on their back to keep them close and safe. Orangutang mamas are their babies’ sole source of protection and food for the first two years of their lives, and remain with them for the first six or seven years. Beyond that, their daughters continue to visit them until they’re 14 or 15! An alligator will actually go so far to protect her young from other gators that she’ll tuck them into her mouth!
