Thanks for sharing your observations. I am also in the woods a lot early mornings keeping tabs on different flocks..pretty much seeing the same here. It was interesting to observe this hen caring for her poults, the grass was wet and I am sure they were getting soaked. She would periodically gather them under her wings to dry them out and warm them up. Another interesting thing to observe was that every so often, she would pick up and fly about 6-8 feet off the ground and as far in distance..all the poults would also jump and fly with her. It appeared to be some kind of an exercise..escape and evasion..maybe..or playful behavior..or just keeping warm...not sure.. but cool to watch.
