It’s near impossible to get all five chickens in one picture. Here’s one with four of them and one in the distance.
Today marks one week from the day we finished our chicken coop and brought home our chickens. I can’t begin to tell you how much we are enjoying our chickens. They bring excitement to our house everyday. The kids LOVE looking for eggs a few times a day. The chickens are quieter than I expected and require so little maintenance (so far). Although I didn’t think I’d want them in my yard (and their coop is plenty big enough), we’ve been letting them out daily to wander around, eat grass and grubs and get a little exercise. The kids love it and the chickens do, too.
We are currently geting about two to three eggs a day. Two of our chickens just hatched in February, so they will start laying any day – but don’t think they are just yet. Once they all get comfortable and settle into their new home I think they will lay more.
Yesterday was our first day actually cooking the eggs. I don’t know why – but I was kind of hoarding them for awhile. Like they were too precious to cook – but we finally made scrambled eggs with a little shredded cheese. The kids devoured it. Our first “farm” to table meal – the first of many eggs-celent breakfasts. They were, as people have said, so much more flavorful and delicious than store bought eggs.
We picked up our chickens up from Mavis – they came home in a large box with pine shavings and were promptly put in the coop.
Where did we get our chickens? We currently have five chickens. We are so lucky to have Miss Mavis barter with us – I traded three Oroweat Outlet vouchers for three chickens. I tried to give her more in the trade, but she wouldn’t accept it. We seriously lucked out. The other two chickens I got from my friends Celia and Tom (owners of Olympia Local Foods) and I also bartered for them as well – giving them things like canned beans from my stockpile.
What kind of chickens do we have?
Amelia – Black & White Chicken – Light Brahma
Princess Lay-a-negg – Yellow Chicken – Buff Orpington
Girly – Brown Chicken- Partridge Cochin
No Name #1 – cross between an Orpington and a Jersey Giant.
No Name #2 – cross between an Orpington and a Jersey Giant.
NAME THAT CHICKEN!
The two chickens from Tom and Celia are a cross between an Orpington and a Jersey Giant. We haven’t named them yet and thought it would be fun to have the Queen Bee crew help! Can you suggest a name for our chickens? The person(s) who suggest the winning name(s) will each win a $15 Amazon gift card. We are giving away two $15 Amazon gift cards – one for each winning name.
The two chickens both look about the same (see pictures below), just a little different coloring – which was tricky to get in a photo. They didn’t listen when I asked them to stand still and smile for the camera.
To enter – it’s simple, leave a comment on this post with your suggested names by 8 p.m. PST July 10, 2012. We will vote as a family and pick the winning names – and notify the winner by email. We’ll also post the results here.
You can follow our chicken and coop journey here. And I plan to do a tutorial post on our coop soon, as well.
Chicken resources:
- Building Chicken Coops For Dummies – $12.03 (reg. $19.99)
- Chicken Coops: 45 Building Ideas for Housing Your Flock – $13.48 (reg. $19.95)
- The Joy of Keeping Chickens: The Ultimate Guide to Raising Poultry for Fun or Profit (The Joy of Series) – $14.95
- Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens, 3rd Edition – $12.36
Christina says
Stella & Shady
Laura says
Formal Name= Virginia and Antoinette
Call Name= Gin and Tonic (afterall, it is summer and finally HOT!)
Christa says
How about Thelma and Louise, the daring partners in crime?
KJP says
Daisy and Scout – the names work great for my cats. 🙂
Chelley says
Growing up, we had chickens and one was named Spreckles. (I can’t remember the names of the others!) The first thing that came to mind (since the one looks like she’s wearing a hood) was Little Red Laying-Hen.
I know I don’t get a vote, but I really like Catalina and Blinky – very cute and go with the royalty theme since you are the Queen of couponing! =o)
Kat says
Because we are in Western Washington I thought they should have local names – how about Purdy and Rainier?
Kim says
How about Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum! Or Foghorn Leghorn and Chicken Little!
vickie says
All so cute- how about Goldie
Mindy K. says
Jasmine and Lily!
Alie says
Jersey girl and Brownie
Heather K says
How about Eglantine (almost white one) and Elvis?
Dyan says
Lucy and Ethel or Queen Bousheta and erma
Danyelle says
Ooh, lots of good suggestions! There is definitely a royalty theme (except for Girly). Amelia from the Princess Diaries, and Princess Lay-a-negg (haha) makes me think you could name the others after queens, either historical – like Victoria, Catherine, Isabella, or Elizabeth – or fairy tale princesses – like Ozma, Cinderella, Jasmine, Aurora (aka Sleeping Beauty), or Tiana. Too many ideas rattling around in my head…
LaDonna says
I thought the one in the back of your picture was a Silkie hen, in which case I would’ve recommended Rod for Rod Stewart. We use to have those when we were little and the fuzzy fluff on top of the head always reminded me of Rod Stewart in the 80’s. 🙂 What about Silkie for the one in the back and Red for the red head?
Kristi says
How about “Patty” – For chicken patty! 😉
Very cute chickens! We have one buff orpington and she’s my absolute fav!
Kassandra says
You could go with a food theme….
(chicken) Alfredo
Teriakyi (chicken)
General Taos (chicken)
Buffalo (chicken)
(chiken) Wing
BBQ (chicken)
(chicken) Ala King
Hillary says
Henrietta and Eloise
Sara says
Henny Penny – you are afterall about saving us money.
Sue says
Cluckers
Sue says
and Buck for the other .
Patti says
Since they were probably clucking it up when you wanted to take their pic — Gabby and Abby 😉
Kristina says
Faithful Pepper and Lady Love
jessica says
Henrietta and Zoe
Celia Husmann says
You are so awesome, I am so excited for them! 🙂 Click and Clack.
maria says
Lynaeve! and Peety. I had a chicken in highschool named peety lol.
Margaret says
Kukachoo and Cackle
Amanda says
Flora and Merryweather, two of the good fairies from Sleepy Beauty.
Charlene says
Abigail
Charlene says
BarbieQ
Sue V says
No name #1: Miss Lucy
No name #2: Sweet Pea
JBee says
Pomp and Circumstance
Cheryl says
Miss Freckles and Miss Speckles
Jody B says
Louise. If you don’t already have the book by Kate DiCamillo – Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken – you should get if for you kids. They will love it. Louise is quite a chicken!
Anne says
Pepper for the black & white one and pumpkin “Spice” for the other. They are both so pretty!
Ardelle Gotcher says
Ombre’ and Cluck
Nadia says
Sunset (for the chicken with the beautiful orange coloring, reminds me of the sky) and Dawn (for the chicken with the whiter coloring, like an early morning in foggy San Francisco).
Maureen says
these are my faves
Heather B. says
My daughter recommends Franny Fluffybottom and Mu Shu.
JBee says
Id like to change my vote to Franny Fluffybottom!!! I’m totally naming my new kitten this 🙂
Shawna says
Teriyaki (Terrie for short)
JBee says
Bedelia. Since you already have Amelia (Amelia Bedelia) little more kid friendly.
Kim says
Sandi & Sunni….I also like Goldilocks (Goldi is the nickname)
Thanks for sharing your Peeps 🙂
Devin says
Helga the Hen and Goldilocks
Margot says
FANCY NANCY!!!!
Bea S says
Gregorina Peck & Elizachick Taylor
bargnmomma says
Mrs Potter (must be said in a British accent) and Simon 🙂
JBee says
Entry for one of them: ‘Snookie’ they are ‘jersey chicks’ afterall. 😉 granted this may not be easily explainable to the kids…
Heather W. says
Chick-a-Bee & Queen Hen…this could be fun! I also like Catalina & Blinkies.
Karinna says
Lol! I like this suggestion a lot. Great idea.
Heather W. says
Thank you Karinna!
NWGardener says
The mostly white one is definately a Dame Eggs-merelda. The other looks to me like Lady Talks-a-lot. These names fit nicely with the royalty theme you have started. What do you think?
Christine says
Lady and Dutchess
Anne says
Thing 1 and Thing 2! I love the book and am sure your kids do also. Enjoy those fresh eggs.
Nicole says
We (my five year old gave some suggestions) came up with MARSHMALLOW for the mostly white chicken and SPECTRUM for the one that gradually fades from dark to light. Hope we helped a little! Have a blessed day!
Casey says
Elphabock! After Elphaba in Wicked. You already have the blonde princess, this one will keep her in line.