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.

Marilyn 2

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.

Marilyn sm

But they’re lovely hens, I think. I can’t tell you which is which. But I still find them quite lovely.

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Robin
There are 8 comments
Filed in: Chickens
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8 Responses to “The Indignity of Being a Plain Chicken”

  1. Kristi Says:

    I think they are quite pretty. I like the red feathers peeking out under the darker feathers.

  2. Lynn Says:

    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!

  3. Rick Says:

    Robin-
    Band one of the chickens with a leg band, that way you can tell who is who! Available at your local feed store.

  4. Robin Ripley Says:

    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 My ComLuv Profile

  5. Mr. McGregor's Daughter Says:

    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 My ComLuv Profile

  6. Dee/reddirtramblings Says:

    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

  7. Alexandra Says:

    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..

  8. Kitty Parmley Says:

    *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.

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Right Now at Bumblebee

February 2nd, 2010

Among other things, I’m working on my presentation about “The Artful Vegetable Garden” for the Davidson Horticultural Symposium. Are you in the NC area and attending? Drop me a line!

Happy Groundhog Day!

Robin

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January 30th, 2010

My brother has a new gardening blog. It’s called I Suck at Gardening. My brother’s a funny guy. Can you tell?

Make sure you read A Rug for My Yard.

I’m so proud of his new blog. *sniff*

Robin

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January 26th, 2010

I spent a bit of time before work this morning tending to the houseplants and preparing for new arrivals. Everyone is watered and clipped. Clay pots are in the dishwasher getting a good scrubbing. A couple will join me in the shower after my morning routine on the spin bike.

Have you placed your bulb order yet? I need to narrow down my choices and hit the “send” button during my lunch break.

Happy day!

Robin

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January 19th, 2010

Thank you to my friends at Homestead Gardens, a wonderfully large regional nursery here in Maryland, for asking me to write a guest post for their new blog. You can see it here.

Let’s see…What else is on tap gardening-wise this week? Well, it’s not so very cold. In fact I actually ate lunch outside yesterday with the little dogs.  I plan to head out for some garden cleanup later. And the chickens have managed to dig up some bulbs in the front flower beds that I need to replant and pray over.

That’s all for now.

Robin

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