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 wasn't going to turn them away. Even if they would only lay brown eggs.
Would you like to save this stuff?
We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
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.
Christine
Hi Karen,
I found your site because of your chickens posts. (We got 6 hens last May and built their coop out of our retired swing set.) And lucky me....you also write about all this other cool stuff as well.
I am so sorry to hear about Cheese Whiz. Glad to know how the name came about. :-). Anything that lays blue eggs is ok in my book.
The egg color part of your story got me thinking about a cross of a rhode island red with an americauna and I found this post:
http://www.homegrowngourmet.org/how-to-know-before-they-crow-gender-identification-in-young-chickens/
Amazing amount of work tracking all that stuff, but, interesting! (They also have great chicken names!)
Liza
I'm sorry for your loss. Sounds like she was a great hen. Sometimes the best comes when least expected.
Charlene
Karen,
My condolences. Pets are heart breaks waiting to happen and yet we continue to set ourselves up for more heart break. I thought dogs or cats were tough until I lost my first and most favorite chicken. Eight years is a good run for you and Cheez Whiz. I’m sure your love and treats made up for your initial thoughts before she matured. Cheez Whiz would tell you to have no guilt.
Love & peace.
allyn
deeply sorry for your loss. and thank you for sharing the back story (which is the one that truly matters after all) cheese whiz is an example to us all. we don't have to be bright or pushy to count, just be.
Emily Welker
Some of us are meant to sparkle on the outside. Some, just on the inside.
You, my dear Karen, do both.
Your dull little chicken Cheez Whiz went to the right mom, for sure.
Teresa Chandler
I always loved Cheez Whiz - just her name made me happy.
R.I.P. little brown hen of the lovely eggs.
Jacqui
I am so sorry to hear she past, and know what a piece of your heart chickens can have when they are your pets, and for 8 years! What a special little one with her crazy blue eggs. Thank you for re-sharing her story.
Grammy
I knew as soon as I saw the title of the post that one of your girls had died. Condolences for your loss, Karen.
I'm out of sorts today so I'll comment that I'm disappointed that so many people only glance at a couple of sentences and think they've read something. Delete that sentence if you don't want it in your comment thread, I'll understand.
I was especially sad that it was Cheez Whiz, for precisely the reason that she didn't have much in the way of personality. Many years ago we literally rescued a dog (she was scavenging garbage and sickly and skinny) and when we took her to the vet to get her healthy we found out she was pregnant. We already had a male dog, and decided two would be nice, but had no desire for a bunch of dogs. Oh well, you do what you have to do. We named our new girl Nancy, and she and Bogart got along famously. He was even a very good stepdad to the nine puppies she had that survived (two died the first night).
When they were old enough, we managed to find good, loving homes for all the pups but one. She had zero personality. Shy and slight and afraid of her own shadow, her idea of a great day was sleeping under the dining table and hoping no one would notice her. Not one person who came to select a pup gave her a second glance. Finally I said she's ours, I guess, so somebody needs to name her. My husband called her Rhonda Fleming. I hoped the name would instill some confidence in her, but it didn't matter. Even her own parents wouldn't let her join their games, and she seemed to accept that. Our dear Rhonda continued her entire life to be the dog that no one noticed, just a sweet girl who asked nothing and did nothing. No antics. No trouble. She was just there. And when she died at the age of 12, I wept for her for days, hoping that we'd showed her she was loved even though no one knew quite how much.
When you introduced us to your chickens, I sensed that Cheez Whiz was another Rhonda. You were a good mom to her.
virginia ritchey
Warms my heart and breaks my heart!
Michelle
I was so sorry to hear about Cheese Whiz (I got the sneak peak on IG). What a lovely story though -- I've been reading here a long time and never knew your little RH hen laid blue eggs. She was a special girl. You were the one that inspired me to get a flock of my own and I have enjoyed every single one and have mourned them all as they've passed on -- the mean ones, the sweet ones, the dumb ones...xxoo
SusanR
So sorry for your loss, Karen.
Marlene
RIP to Cheese Whiz, you were a very good mom to her and she lived a very long life for a chicken. An a Rhode that laid blue eggs!! She was a star!!! Sending hugs!
Mary C
I'm so sorry. They work their way into our hearts.
Teri
RIP Cheez Whiz. It's amazing how the most unnoticeable hens can endear their way into your heart. I've shed many a tear over some of the hens I felt the least connected to. My condolences on the loss of your old girl.
Daisy Wong
RIP Cheez Whiz....you had brought so much joy (and blue eggs) to your momma 🌈
Cussot
Thank you for telling us the wonderful story of Cheez Whiz's kismet. End of an era! They were a great flock of individuals.
izzy
Aww, I'm so sorry. I've been following your blog for a long time now, and I remember your post about getting the chicks. In fact, that's what made me tune in all the time, were those cute little chick posts. I've been following ever since. I'll miss Cheez Whiz too. I knew she was the last one from your initial flock, and it feels so final. Like, the end of an era.
Barbie
Oh I’m so sorry Karen! What a great story and good life lesson to apply! She’s in chickie heaven and as beautiful as can be havin a fun chickie time!
Christina Houston
I think you should write a children’s book, the lessons, if you think you can, you can! She heard you say how you wanted those colored eggs and she tried to please you. If even on the outside you are not beautiful, you are on the inside...maybe.
Marcia
What a sweet story. Now I want a chicken. <3