Well folks, the farmer and I have skirted round each other, putting forwards 'fors' and 'againsts' and done a lot of bargaining - and the issue has been resolved amicably.
Yesterday we collected eight new hens. Six of them are Light Sussex/Rhode Island Red cross breeds - bred for their egg-laying prowess. They are nice young birds and look very perky - maybe a month off laying.
But then - surprise, surprise - the farmer suggested I chose a couple of 'fancy' hens (his word!) so, never one to hang back in such situations, I did. They are blue haze hens and as you will see in the photograph they are easily distinguishable - one has a distincly red neck and the other has much darker plumage.
I did look longingly at a handsome cockerel but the farmer was having none of it. Accoring to him (and I suppose (grudgingly) he is right) a cockerel will be more-likely to encourage the hens to go broody (i.e. stop laying eggs).
The result of this compromise is that my remaining six hens, many of whom are fifteen years old, will be allowed to live out the rest of their lives scratching about in the fields and generally enjoying life, even if they don't produce more than the odd egg.
Goldie, who I bred myself in a clutch of eggs a friend gave me, is once again in the Sin bin as you will see in the photograph. She is at least fifteen years old and is more or less permanently broody. This means that as soon as one of the other old dears lays an egg Goldie rushes up, shooes the old hen away and sits on her egg. The upshot is usually a broken egg as poor old Goldie is a bit arthritic. So periodically she spends a few days in isolation - she doesn't seem to mind.
So - here is a job for you all. I want names for my two blue haze girls - all suggestions will be gratefully received.
Oh what joy! We had,Henrietta, Henny Penny,Pom pom,and lots of other daft names. But that is the pleasure of a hen, 'cause they are daft laughable creatures, don't you think? I'll have a think about some names.
ReplyDeleteYou take me back. Dad kept hens during the war, Mostly Rhode Island Reds, and we had one called Goldie, I recall. My younger brother used to go down each morning to collect the eggs. For some time in itially there were none and he began to become frustrated. Imagine the glee one morning when he brought back four! "Bloody clever hens, them!" said my Grandpa, "They've laid 'em with the little lion already stamped on 'em!"
ReplyDeleteSmoke and Haze?
ReplyDeleteOh I like Smoke and Haze. I was thinking Misty and Haze so it goes to show it's a good idea ;)
ReplyDeleteHmmmm Blue Haze hens - of the age I guess where they woulkd be considering a blue rinse - so I would choose 2 very traditional names - Doris and Enid would be my suggestion - I have 2 aunties with these names and they are both of the blue rinse brigade!
ReplyDeleteFun choices already posted! I like all of them. Chickens are such cheery creatures. I'm glad you have some new friends for your flock.
ReplyDeleteGreat news, Weaver! And such a wonderful idea to allow these hens to live on your farm till the end of their days! Thanks for your visit.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! I love hens - they remind me of my childhood when my grandmother allowed me to collect the eggs. The first hen is beautiful but then so are the 'blue' ones. I'm hopeless at choosing names - Bluebelle comes to mind and then I always think they should have Victorian sounding names like Grace, Maud, Harriet, Sybil, Cecily or Alice. Have a lovely time choosing which ones to use - I'm sure you'll be inundated with suggestions.
ReplyDeleteHow about Cinder and Ashley - then again, perhaps those names are just a little too cute.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...I couldn't resist coming out of lurking to throw in a name or two. :-)
ReplyDeleteBlue Haze Hens, eh?
Ok, perhaps: Hazel Red and Hazel Blue
or Red Hazel & Blue Hazel
How about Minnie and Mabel? Nice old fashioned clucky sort of names. A tad of alliteration might be fun! Hope they all lay lots of lovely eggs for you, Weaver!
ReplyDeleteWhen we were young my father had 3 ducks which he named after 3 of his bosses at work.
ReplyDelete...Tramp
The broody hens do eat bugs in the yard, right, so they still have a purpose and a lot of value, beside being faithful pets. I had a Russian blue cat once named "Icer." that's the only name I don't have another name but I did think that Cinder and Asher were cute.
ReplyDeleteThey are all quite charming, love the coloring of the Blue Haze Hens.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why but Persephanie popped in my head right away ? ? ?
Olivia and Isabella where next...
But I have always like all the "old fashion" names. Mabel and Enid maybe ?
I guess you kinda' have to see them and see what name suits.
I would love to have chickens eating the scorpions, spiders and bugs here but they wouldn't last a day with the coyotes.
cheers, parsnip
Thank you for the name suggestions. I think you are right - somehow the names need to be old fashioned sounding ones. I shall take a day or two to decide - they have to stay in their hut until they get used to us so shall probably make my mind up what to call them by the end of the week.
ReplyDeleteGosh, I do like the naming of things in general
ReplyDeletepurple haze = Violet (?)
Gladys has a nice old fashioned ring to it
I think Ivy is due for a come back.
Cecily ( as suggested by another) has such a charming ring to it
(as per The Importance of Being Ernest)
word verification: rewer
Hetty and Mickey. After two of my not-Aunt "Aunts", who were sisters.
ReplyDeleteAuntie Hetty was a dyed red-head, Auntie Mickey was a blue-rinser.
Meanwhile, yikes to the geese! My mortal enemies in childhood.
Mine always seem to be Millie, Molly and Mandy after the childrens books but its a bit difficult now I have a grand daughter called Millie!
ReplyDeleteWeaver, I came back to check on things here, and I LOVE THE DUCK PICTURE in your banner!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely...It's fabulous with each striding along in a row...Charming ~
Two good ole' Aussie chook names
ReplyDeleteNellie and Melba
What's the prize?
OMG..I love it whenever you describe the farmer side of you because I'm quite fascinated by farming (guess that is bcoz I've never done it)
ReplyDeleteI liked those new fellas added to your family.
My suggestions: Tripsy, Hazy..
Oh poor Goldie!
ReplyDeleteI kept hens when I lived in Malawi, they were very companionable creatures to have around.
I like the suggested names Smoke, Haze and Misty
I was thinking about this yesterday whilst we were tootling about on the motorbike - Dame Edna is queen of the blue rinse brigade and her pal was madge - Edna and Madge 2 very traditional names there!
ReplyDeletehi like hen very much i want nurture hen.
ReplyDeleteWe always have to have a Hattie after Hattie Jacques in our hens.
ReplyDeleteweaver - you "won"!! i would love to know how you managed that . . . . if it's appropriate for this blog! names - "true" (blue) and "sky" (blue) are all that come to mind as my morning coffee has not seeped into my veins yet! steven
ReplyDeleteJust what you wanted - excellent!
ReplyDeleteNice lot of suggestions - shall take a few more days yet to decide but thank you all for participating. Today the girls have been let out into a chicken run - after a few more days they will be sent out into the big wide world - to scratch in the fields and be real free range - then - hopefully - the eggs will come. The farmer says the two blue ones lay blue eggs!
ReplyDeleteBev lays blue eggs Pat_ she is currently sitting! As you know - over road! Dxx
ReplyDeleteI like the rhyme of Dusty and Rusty [or Dusky and Rusky], but I prefer the 'ring' of Steven's 'Sky' - and wonder if it could go in tandem with 'Sapphire' or 'Silver'?
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, the term "blue haze" conjured up an image for me of Marlene Dietrich singing under a lamp post in the fog. And then that brought to mind Lotte Lenya. So, my suggestions would be Marlene and Lotte. Unusual names for chickens, I know. But they do look like elegant ladies, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteHow exciting for you to get your hens. We hope to build a chicken house in our new place but that might not happen until spring. Mr. B is a poultry man at heart as was his father. His father wrote a book called "Successful Broiler Growing" which was sold through Sears and Roebuck in the 1950's - 80's and helped breed a chicken called the Delaware.
ReplyDeleteI really want to have some Buff Orpingtons just so I can say the name. And maybe some cochins and the ones that lay colored eggs and ...... That chicken house better be large!