The Ugly Little Chicken. A Love Story.
This is the story of my ugly little hen.
A hen so dull and boring we didn't even bother to name her.
Her nose is really too big and her comb is really too small.
She's so invisible the other chickens don't even pick on her.
The little hen that almost doesn't even exist.
Someone suggested we name her Cheez Whiz, since Cheez Whiz adds personality. We were desperate. So she was named.
Cheez Whiz now had a name, but still no zing. No expression, no cute chicken characteristics. No personality.
I didn't hate Cheez Whiz. There was no reason to hate her. She was just there. She was so dull there wasn't even anything to hate.
So when a friend lost one of his chickens to a fox I agreed to give him one of my hens. I knew immediately it was going to be Cheez Whiz. I felt bad, but if I was going to part with one of my flock it was going to be her.
I wanted to make room for an Ameraucana you see. They're the chickens that I've always wanted. They're one of only a few breeds of chickens that lay blue and green eggs.
But ... on Easter morning when my boyfriend surprised me up with a box full of day old Rhode Island Red fluffballs I certainly wasn't going to turn them away. Even if they would only lay brown eggs.
So I counted the days until my friend would pack boring, ugly chicken Cheez Whiz into a cardboard box and take her away. Then I could buy a blue egg laying chicken. .
I got a phone call. My friend didn't need an extra chicken anymore. He went out and bought himself a whole flock ... of blue egg laying Ameraucanas.
I was devastated. He was getting the chickens I always wanted, and I was once again stuck with Cheez Whiz. The dull little hen.
Then one day when she was around 4 months old, Cheez Whiz slowly and clumsily made her way into the nesting box for the first time.
The other chickens stood at the door and squawked at her a bit, but she ignored them and went about her business.
Eventually the others left her alone.
It was at exactly that moment I learned a life lesson.
Because on that day, my boring little chicken ... the rose-combed Rhode Island Red named Cheez Whiz ... did this for me.
That day I couldn't even get excited over her blue egg. I couldn't jump for joy or laugh with surprise. All I could manage was to pick Cheez Whiz up and say I'm sorry.
She had a good life Cheez Whiz. She died yesterday. She was the last of my original flock. I found her alone, outside in the run on the cold ground, her body still warm. I suspect she died instantly of a heart attack. I had only been out feeding her an afternoon snack about an hour earlier.
I picked her body up and held her against me and for the last time said to her, I'm sorry.
Crystal
This is such a great story. Never judge a book (or chicken) by it's cover (exterior). You gave me goose bumps reading this. I am happy you didn't give up on Cheez Whiz because truly she brought you just what you always wanted but in a different form right?
I hope you are having a wonderful week.
Much Love,
Crystal
corporate interior design
Yay...Cheez Whiz. Its always the quiet under dog you have to look out for, because just when you aren't expecting it they do something truly extroadinary. Great story...thanks for sharing.
Nathalie
Morale of the story. Don't judge a book by its cover. I do love her eyes though, very expressive.
Don't blue eggs taste just like white or yellow ones?
Karen
Nathalie - They do taste just the same, they're just special because most eggs or white or brown. To see the blue and green eggs in a bowl is remarkable! Very pretty. ~ karen
kelliblue
That is awesome! Go Cheez Whiz! Tho perhaps you may have to tell folks she's a "Whiz" at egg laying! :)
Karen
The fella calls her The Wizard. Slightly more dignified. ~ k
TracyMB
Loved this story.... and even her close-up. Her egg is beeeeyouteeful! :)
Stella
That is a face only a mother could love... but what a basket of eggs! Well done Cheese Whiz!
Sandy
God, I almost adopted her on the spot! I was crying and just wanted to hug Cheez Whiz. The chicken, not the product...
Meg
That. Is adorable. I'm in love!
RadiomomRhetoric
I might love her. Just from her simple photo. I am glad you kept her! :)
karenagain
Question.
Maybe you answered this somewhere in the past. What do you do with those hens in the winter? Does it get super cold there like -35 for a few weeks?
Karen
karenagain - It usually only gets that cold with the windchill. It does get pretty stinkin' cold come January though. The chickens stay in the coop when it's blizzardy outside. I'll have a heat lamp in there for them, even though these chickens are very cold tolerant. Technically they can just be left in the coop in the cold so long as their water is thawed. I, however, want them to be as comfortable as possible, without changing the actual weather too much. I'll also put a light in their run. They do apparently go out in the run throughout the winter. I'll also put plastic up around the hardware cloth in their run. This will act as a wind break throughout the winter. Thanks to the people of Facebook for telling me about this little trick. And finally .. my lights will be on timers to make sure the hens have light for 14 - 15 hours a day. This will help ensure they continue to lay eggs throughout the winter. There ya go! ~ karen
Judith
This story reminds me of another one...... The Ugly Duckling! Always remember, Karen, still waters run deep. I love finding one of those green eggs when I buy a dozen from our local farm.
Oh and I showed your chicken coop post to my carpenter husband. He was appropriately impressed!
Karen
Judith - Well thank him for me. Also tell him ... I'll never do it again! LOL. ~ k
Jennifer Lisa
That would explain the big beak and tiny comb. Hooray for Cheez Whiz!!! What a lucky mix up for you.
Karen
Jennifer - Her comb is actually larger now. The picture is a bit old. She's still a rose comb though. Tiny little comb. ~ k!
karenagain
What a lovely post Karen. You know what's weird? I painted my bathroom a month ago a repulsive shade of something that had a pretty name. It turned out the colour of Kraft Dinner or maybe Chees Whiz. It took about five coats of this stupid paint to cover the beige walls. Every time I go in the bathroom I get angry and need to take L-Theanine.
Today I strutted into Canadian Tire and grabbed the first Debbie Travis paint chip that caught my eye. I DID NOT take the chip home and debate about it for two weeks like usual. I bought the paint, took it home and painted half the bathroom WITHOUT even taping. HA! Take that ugly orangy-yellow paint.
Oh, the weird part is I'm re-painting it the same colour as that egg.
And, I think that boring chicken has an interesting eye. She had a secret and was bursting to share it with you.
Julie
Oh my goodness, what an incredible, heartwarming story! We have one RIR and one Easter Egger, and once I got to the end of your tale, I looked at Cheez Whiz again, and now I can totally see the Easter Egger in her. Amazing!
Karen
OH my God. Yes. I'm an awful, terrible person who should probably be burned at the stake. I think you're missing the point. ~ sincerely, Karen.
Kristy
Is it weird this makes me wanna cry!?!
(and also wanna say- never count your chickens before they hatch- umm what!?)
Yaay for the underdog!! Or underchicken, as it is. ;)
Theresa Clarkson-Farrell
The Little hen that could! lovely story.
stacey erin
Adorable. If all your eggs were that blue-green color, you wouldn't appreciate their beauty nearly as much! They'd just be... regular. Now Cheez Whiz gives you eggs that POP against the brown ones! (Not that it matters once they are an omelet, but they sure look great in that basket!)
Chau
Cheeze Whiz rocks!
Abbey
This has got to be the cutest story I've read in a long time. I've always wanted a little clutch of "Easter Eggers", but I haven't got a place for them, yet. One day, one day...