Poultry Farmer Thinks His Hen Laid An Egg, Then Realizes What She’s Really Sitting On…

For the most part, chickens aren’t necessarily known for being the cuddliest of critters. Those raised from chickhood can be affectionate from time to time if they’ve been in the presence of humans for a while, but they’re not like dogs or cats. Still, there’s a reason why we refer to overly protective people as “mother hens…”

Hens are known for using their own bodies to protect their young and keep them warm. It only makes sense, right? Chicken eggs need to be incubated, and hatched chicks require lots of warmth to survive. Still, one particular hen’s relationship with a not-so-typical “chick” just might be evidence that the birds might be more cuddly than we give them credit for.

On a farm in Tuckombil in New South Wales, Australia, one mother hen has become quite famous for her generous expressions of motherly love. But she doesn’t just limit her maternal care to her eggs…

In addition to sitting on her eggs, this hen is known for caring for another teeny creature: a barn kitten! Abandoned by its mother, the little fur ball happily curls up in her nest, and the kind hen takes him under her wing to protect him just like she would one of her own babies.

Like any good mother, the hen seems to have a little bit of problem when it comes to letting her kids go. When this kitten gets curious and tries to wander away from the nest, his “mama” puts him right back in his place. Luckily, it doesn’t take too much cajoling for the hen to convince the kitten that being safe and warm was a much better proposition than venturing out into the cold and scary barn.

There’s really nothing like seeing how this mother hen treats her adopted kitten! It just goes to show that animals are full of surprises, and no matter what species she is, a mother’s love knows no bounds. Watch how the hen reacts when the farmer tries moving her off of her nest…