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.
Marie Anne
Aww sweet Cheez Whiz 😢, rest in peace
Eileen
I used to go to a farmer who had chickens who laid Easter eggs. The most beautiful blue and green eggs you ever saw. Those were the years I never dyed any eggs for Easter. All done for me. Fabulous!
Ramona
Just.....crying.
Claire
RIP Cheez Whiz 😢 I've been following from the beginning and know that despite the faulty start, she was a much-loved hen.
Jenny W
Hugs to you Karen, & my sincerest sympathy. I can not imagine the shock of finding CW like that :(.
Your story about her was beautiful; The Little Chicken That Could, The Ugly Duckling, and "Never Judge a Book by its Cover" all rolled into one sweet little hen <3
Wendi
I’m so sorry for your loss, Karen. She was no Cuddles, but I guess giving you your blue/green eggs was her way of loving you :)
Karen
There will only be one Cuddles. :) But of the lot I have now Cheez Whiz was definitely the most level headed. ~ karen!
Maura
Very sorry for your loss 🙁
Karen
Thank you Maura. ~ karen!
Catherine
RIP little Cheez Whiz xxx
Bunny Peters
We loved this story!!! We used to have a flock of chickens (~20 years ago). We don’t miss the work or the hawks that used to circle our yard, hoping to snag someone........
Maybe we will restart our flock (we miss the fresh eggs).....
We agree with the others who said you should write a children’s book about Cheez Wizz.
We loved seeing her special egg with the other eggs..... you really can’t judge a book by its cover!!!
The Peters Puppy Pack sends hugs and condolences on your loss of Cheez Wizz. Our Pack is made up of rescues (we adopt elderly or medically fragile dogs and provide hospice care), so it’s a “dynamic” Pack with constant changes in membership (when one Pack member passes away, we adopt another “special needs” dog in their honor).......
We hope you can adopt another hen like Cheez Wizz who will keep your life interesting with her surprises!!!!
Karen
I'm sure I will Bunny. :) And I was thankful she died an easy death. Instant. No predators involved. :) ~ karen!
M J
😭😭😭😭Cheez Whiz is on the on the Rainbow 🌈 Bridge🐓❣️ She really loved you & gave you what you had been yearning for❣️ God Bless her & I’m so sorry😭
Julia T Osborne
I’ve always loved the tale of Cheez Whiz, and now I’m crying in my car at work.
She had a great innings, and I’m sure she forgave you Karen.
You’ve encouraged many, including me, to keep chickens with your honest writing about the difficulties and joys.
Best wishes x
Karen
Thanks Julia. I do try to be honest about what keeping chickens really entails. Death included. :/ ~ karen!
MrsChrisSA
I am at my office and I am crying!!!
I am sorry Cheez Whiz and I am sorry Karen.
I have sworn that I will never get another animal when our current lot depart for the big animal farm in the sky.
It just hurts too much!
Karen
Thanks MrsChrisSA! I'm O.K. Now stop crying at work. ~ karen!
Martha
Sorry for the loss of your Cheeze Whiz. Even a dull one makes a place in our lives. My Rhodies have all been independent characters (like redheads) ,but nary a blue egg
Karen Anderson
I'm so sorry, Karen. It's never easy losing a pet. Cluck cluck Cheese Whiz.
Laura Lee Mistycah
What an amazing story about an amazing hen. (Yes, I cried too, as I have chickens and they are my friends and entertainment, so I know what a hole in your heart it can be when you lose one. This should be made into a children's book! (actually a grown ups book too!) I'm sad that she is gone, but she had a good life with you and made you real proud! Thanks for sharing.
Julienne
I have chickens...they all have their own personalities. Something most people don’t know. I love mine and cry each time one dies. Reading your made story made me cry for a little hen I didn’t know, but I do understand how they get into our hearts and make us mourn their passing. ❤️😓🐓
Carol
so many of us are plain janes who never get a prize of any kind for the things we do. We just get up and go to work every day and do our best and then get over looked because we are not really pretty, or do wonderful things every day. Then we die alone. I hope she goes to chicken heaven.
Kim
💚
Mike Flegle
Chicken Heaven just got 'a good egg' named Cheese Whiz. I bet her chicken (angel) wings are green and blue.
Liz
it's a real life ugly duckling story! aww, love it :) I never saw this post before. Loving being able to browse around!
Cogaroo
She's not ugly at all…she's cute, in a funny sort of way. :) That's such a sweet story, you never know what a chicken will do!
Karen
Wanna know something funny? That little Cheez Whiz turned out to be a complete BULLY, lol! She's getting a bit better, but I think she knows she lays special eggs and takes liberties by biting all the other chickens combs. Just goes to show ya ... lol. ~ karen!