Nov 12
2009
The Indignity of Being a Plain Chicken
There is nothing exotic about Marilyn or Madelyn.
The poor birds do their share of work by pushing out a lovely brown egg a day each. And yet do visitors stop to exclaim “My what a beautiful chicken!” like they do with the Polish hens? Does anyone admire their graceful movements, as with the white leghorns and their fashion runway walk? Does anyone listen for their beautiful voices, as with T. Boone Chickens?
They aren’t even athletic. While the other chickens can jump to snatch a treat from their bell toy in the outside run, the black hens can only stand underneath and look longingly at the lettuce. People laugh at their pitiful attempts to hop off the ground. The black chickens just can’t jump.
To add insult to injury, we can’t even tell them apart. That’s right. They look just alike. We use the names Madelyn and Marilyn interchangeably between the two of them.
But they’re lovely hens, I think. I can’t tell you which is which. But I still find them quite lovely.
November 12th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
I think they are quite pretty. I like the red feathers peeking out under the darker feathers.
November 13th, 2009 at 9:49 am
I think Madelyn and Marilyn are beautiful hens! I hope my little ones grow up to be as pretty! The other chickens have been taught tricks (to jump up & get a treat)? Wow – I’ll have to go back over your older posts to read about that! I’ve never thought about teaching chickens tricks- I’ll have to work on that with my little ones now! I bet they could do something neat… Thanks for the idea!
November 13th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Robin-
Band one of the chickens with a leg band, that way you can tell who is who! Available at your local feed store.
November 13th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Thanks Kristi!
Lynn – Chickens will do almost anything for a treat. You can train them to eat from your hand, sit on your lap, come when you call, climb on your shoulder. Just have a can of corn and they’ll do anything!
Rick – You’re a genius!
Robin
.-= Robin Ripley´s last blog ..The Indignity of Being a Plain Chicken =-.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
But do they know that they’re just plain chickens? Ignorance is bliss.
.-= Mr. McGregor’s Daughter´s last blog ..The Joy of Leaf Mold =-.
November 16th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Black chickens are my faves. I especially love Australops. Yours are pretty with their shiny feathers and red accents which look like the perfect female accessory. We love them too.~~Dee
November 19th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Hi
This is the first time that I’ve been to your blog… I’ll try to visit
it again and again.
You are getting chickens! My mom got chickens when I was a schoolgirl.
I’d like to get chickens but I can,t. My best wishes..
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:45 pm
*I* think they’re cute. I wish I had a dress that had that black over red effect. And if you are getting an egg a day from they, they are useful, too.