Maren's House

This isn’t so much a give-away, I’m planning one for later this month, as it is a random contest. All of the chickens but one are named. I feel pretty safe naming them, because we are raising these things for their eggs, not their frying potential.

The Golden Sex Link and the Americauna are named, respectively, Lucy and Ethel. These two chickens are the bravest. When the coop door was opened for the first time, Lucy looked around and ran right out. When Ethel saw Lucy on the other side of the coop, she was very surprised and starting chirping like crazy at her. Lucy chirped back and Ethel ran right out to join her.  They are always the first out of the coop now, and always are together, pecking and scratching. If one of them does something, the other one immediately runs to do it, too.

The Buff Orpington’s name is Charlotte. I don’t know why. The kids named her. She is aloof. Or pretends to be. She acts like she couldn’t care less what the other chickens are doing, until it looks like they are having more fun than her. Then she frantically starting chirping and squawking and runs over to where they are….where she immediately pretends to ignore them. She was the last one out of the coop, and the only one who still freaks out every time we try to hold her.

The other day, Jessica was determined, and finally had Charlotte in her loving arms. She sat down with her in a chair near the coop. Charlotte was cheeping loudly and stretching her tiny neck out. Her little feet were running in the air. The other chickens ran over to see what the heck she was yelling about. They all looked at Jessica, looked at Charlotte and I swear, Lucy rolled her eyes. Ethel gave a loud chirp and the three remaning chickens ran (they run everywhere) back to the sandbox, where they had all been pecking through the sand, hopefully eating earwigs.

Which brings us to the nameless chicken, the Barred Rock. She is the smallest of the three, and the most cuddly. She follows Lucy and Ethel around, but does not try to steal their bugs. (They steal from each other, and when they’re not paying attention, Charlotte tries to steal from them). Here’s a funny story that sort of tells what kind of baby she is, and how the other girls feel about her: On Monday evening the chickens were out, having their free range time. Lucy and Ethel were investigating Blair’s tools and the materials he had out (still building the gazebo roof, pics to come later). They were very interested in the roofing, and the wood. Lucy liked the power cord, and Ethel was checking out the saw. Little Barred Rock was not so interested in the stuff, but followed them around pecking and scratching in the grass. Charlotte stood about 6 ft away ignoring everyone. Lucy saw a bird land in the yard and she and Ethel ran to drive it off (these two are very territorial) Buff missed their departure, she was wrastling an earwig (good girl!).  When she looked up, they were gone, but she didn’t know where they were. She peeped and chirped like crazy  and was running around in circles looking.  Lucy heard and she and Ethel both started cheeping. Barred Rock spotted them, and ran like a madwoman to them, where she stood between them, trying to get a grip. After a moment. the three of them continued with their chickenly activities.

S0, the contest will work like this: If you have an idea for a name, submit it in the comments. I will read accept entries through the end of the week, then pick my three favorite. Then, next week, we’ll have a vote. The name with the most votes, wins.

The rules:

1. NO descriptive names. No Fluffy’s or Stripey’s. No Nuggets, or other chicken food names.

2. No current famous ppl’s names. Not naming chickens after Gaga, or Paris Hilton, or Shania Twain.

3. No top ten baby names.

I know, I’m picky, right?:)