Chickadee & Chicks
Made to order in Salado, TX · Ships in 2–4 business days
Price range: $49.99 through $64.99
A mother chickadee with her three chicks lined up on a berry branch, measuring 3.2" high × 10" wide (excluding branch), laser cut from 1/8-inch steel, that taps into a tree trunk, wooden fence or post with a few hammer strikes. Choose Raw Steel, which arrives bare and rusts naturally outdoors to a warm brown patina, or Black Powder Coat, the same piece finished in black. Cut to order in Texas (free US shipping over $85).
- 30-day returns
- Damaged or wrong item replaced or refunded
Gallery photographs show bare or weathered raw steel. A black-finish photograph is not supplied.
The whole family, lined up on one branch.
There is a stretch in early summer when the fledglings come out and simply sit — three or four of them in a row on the same branch, close enough to touch, not doing much of anything. The parent works back and forth without stopping. The young ones wait, and then flutter their wings the moment she returns.
It goes on for a week or two. Then they scatter, and the branch is empty.
We had this one cut to hold that week. The adult at one end, the chicks alongside, all facing the same way.
The work behind it is considerable. A single brood of chickadees takes something in the order of six to nine thousand caterpillars before the young are grown, and both parents fetch every one. It is the reason a yard with chickadees in it has noticeably fewer insects in it.
They are also cleverer than their size suggests. A chickadee will hide thousands of seeds over the course of an autumn, in bark and moss and siding, and remember where. Other birds in the woods listen for their alarm call and act on it.
People give this one to new parents, and to their own. Set it where it will be passed daily — a porch post, a fence rail beside the walk.
Details
- Design: An adult chickadee feeding three chicks along one berry branch
- Size: 3.2" high × 10" wide (excluding branch), approx. 8 oz
- Material: 1/8-inch American steel
- Finish: Choose Raw Steel (arrives bare, rusts naturally outdoors) or Black Powder Coat
- Mounting: Built-in hammer-in spike for trees, fences and wooden posts
- Made in Texas: Laser cut to order in our family-owned shop
How to Set It
1. Pick a spot on a tree trunk, wooden fence or post — eye level from a window is best.
2. Hold the spike at a slight downward angle against the wood.
3. Tap the thick end of the spike with a hammer or mallet until it is firm.
No drilling, no screws, no other tools.
The Finish
Pick your finish from the Finish menu on this listing.
Raw Steel (Rusts Naturally): Your piece arrives as bare, raw steel — a clean steel gray. Outdoors, rain and dew turn it a warm rust brown, usually over the first few weeks, and the color keeps deepening with the weather. There is no paint or coating, so there is nothing to peel, fade or touch up. While the rust is forming, rust-colored runoff can mark pale stone, concrete or siding directly below it, so set it over wood, soil or mulch. Prefer the bare steel look? Keep it indoors or out of the rain.
Black Powder Coat: The same steel piece, powder coated in black. It arrives black rather than bare, does not develop the rust patina, and leaves no rust runoff, so it can go over pale stone, concrete or siding. Wipe it clean with a damp cloth. If it ever gets chipped, a dab of black exterior metal paint touches it up.
Processing & Shipping
Cut to order in our shop in Texas. Please allow 2–4 business days before your order ships. Orders of $99 or more ship free within the United States; under that, shipping is a flat $14.92. We ship within the United States only.
Returns
100% satisfaction guaranteed. If you are not happy with your piece for any reason, email [email protected] within 30 days of delivery and we will make it right with a replacement or a full refund.
About Our Photos
Some listing images are created or edited with AI-assisted tools to show the piece in an outdoor setting. The design and size you receive match this listing.
About Shadow Birds
Every Shadow Birds piece is cut from solid American steel and made in Texas. Browse the shop for more birds, Garden Folk, Seasonal & Holiday designs and Critters.
Questions? We're Glad to Help.
Send us a message anytime. Ordering several for a family, a memorial service, a garden club or a store? Just ask — we are happy to set up larger orders.
