The Chicken Show

In the fall of my sophomore year at college, after I had been working with the chickens at the bio station for a year, Prof gave my friend Frank and me $100 and sent us off to buy some chickens at the Ohio National poultry show. I was without a car in college, so even the prospect of a road-trip was exciting. We drove the two hours down to Columbus listening to the “Flashdance” soundtrack.

In my year with the chickens I had learned a lot about their care and I had gotten to know about the various breeds that we kept. We had a good variety, from the common egg-laying Leghorns to the unusual, naked-necked Turkens and the top-knotted Polish. There were game breeds too--Aseels and bantam Old English games, so I had worked with a lot of different breeds (but curiously none of the ones I keep now).

Silkie

The poultry show opened my eyes. In the huge, chilly hall were hundreds of caged chickens, the roosters creating a din that had to be shouted over, the dusty air smelling of chickens. I was instantly smitten with the fluffy poodle-like Silkies (in those days coming only in black or white) and also the rainbow of modern games, their long skinny legs lending them a stilt-like quality; they looked more like shorebirds than chickens. There were broad, double-breasted bantam Cornish and well, giant Jersey Giants.

Bantam modern game

Our $100 went pretty far that day. We came home with Silkies, a trio of bantam blue rocks, birchen modern games, and white-crested Polish bantams. We rounded up boxes at the show for transport, but I remember that some of our new chickens had to ride the two hours home in paper bags!

Polish

Over the years I returned from time to time; I ended up living in central Ohio after I was done with school, so it was never much of a drive. Every time I went, especially after I had my house in the country, I’d spend the next few weeks dreaming and planning for chickens until the business of the holiday season distracted me. But always, in late fall, my thoughts turned to chickens.

Last year I went to the show for the first time in many years when my new chicks were only 2 weeks old. As I walked from the parking lot, the noise and smell hitting me, exhibitors unloading chickens in wooden cages from the backs of pickups, the decades fell away and it was like I was in college again. Only this time I had chickens of my own.

Shamo

Yesterday I went again, determined not to buy any since my flock is finally down to a comfortable size. I didn’t get any, but this time I was stopped in my tracks by the Shamos. You can’t doubt the T. rex-chicken connection after you’ve been stared down by one of these! I was also drawn to the Sicilian buttercups with their antler-combs. Neither of these breeds would thrive in my unheated coop, but they are striking birds.

Buttercup

Birthday chickens

Finn, of course

A year ago I ventured out to the post office before dawn on a snowy, windy morning and brought home my first chicks. This first year has been quite an adventure, but a successful one: there have been no losses.

The birthday chickens are looking a little rough right now. It’s the right time of the year for molting, but they’re too young for it. Chickens molt at 18 months of age, which is in the fall if they’ve been hatched in the spring like most are. I’ve been finding a lot of loose feathers, but Belle is the only one who seems really committed to the molt. Adding protein to the diet is usually recommended to help ease them through the process, but they’ve been eating chick starter since Elizabeth and Mario were hatched, so they’re getting plenty of protein.

Belle, a little worse for wear

Goldi, with pumpkin treat

Clucky wondering if it’s really a treat

Rachel digging in with Clucky

I’ve been struggling with the decision of whether and when to sell the young birds. The grass is showing some wear and their space will be halved when I take down the extra fencing (which I need to do before the ground freezes so the propane tank can be filled later this winter). There are three social groups at present based on age--the older hens without babies and Finn, Clucky’s four pullets, and Flicka and Zen who are still in mommy-mode with Mario and Elizabeth. At ten weeks the moms are looking worn out and are showing no signs of cutting the cord.

Flicka after 10 weeks of motherhood

Zen, looking worn out too

Elizabeth

After selling both males and Acorn from Clucky’s brood, I am still left with four pullets. Mario does have to go, but I was worried that since he’s a mixed breed there wouldn’t be any takers unless I offered him for free. So I finally decided that I would sell both Mario and Elizabeth and offer a deal if someone would buy both of them. Within an hour of posting them on Craig’s List I had a taker.

Mario

I went out before dawn yesterday morning to wrangle the babies. I had decided to put them in the kennel until the buyer arrived in the afternoon so they could have some contact with Flicka and Zen, and the moms wouldn’t be tempted to try to fly out to them. Even though the moms were once hand-tamed, I have not handled the babies and they are pretty wild. It was a rodeo even in the dark. I was able to get Elizabeth pretty easily, but then I had to trap Mario in the corner under the roost and while he yelled, Finn crowed, and Zen attacked me. When I had to catch them later in the afternoon it was even worse because everybody knew what was up. Next time I do this, I’ll try to tame them a little beforehand and wait to sell until the babies are weaned. Although it was a stressful day for everyone, they are lucky birds because they are going to be pets in their new home.