I just went to the chicken run to given the hens and cockerels some corn.  One of the sitting hens had gotten off of her nest and I felt sad that at such a late stage she had abandoned her eggs.  How wrong I was.  Without any fuss or bother she had six little chicks running around her.  Clever hen.  I gave them chick crumbs and a drown proof water drinker (an open bowl of water is an sure invitation for ducklings and chicks to fall in and drown) and praised mother for her calm approach to her brood.