As much as holding the dinosaur chicken was a thrill, seeing others with poultry in arms was also fun. The most inspiring place to see chickens being handled was at the showmanship competitions for the youth.
These children don’t just show their birds; they dote on them.
This girl’s rooster loves to be cradled in her arms and have his belly rubbed.
I think that the “fancy” (as the world of bird shows is called) is in good hands!
When I do school visits I bring my picture book, Tillie Lays an Egg, a hen, and feathers. At the end of the program, I encourage the children to write and illustrate their own stories about chickens. I tell them that the chickens in their story don’t have to look like mine, that chickens come in all shapes and colors. I tell them that chickens can be black, yellow, blue or white, speckled or striped, with glossy feathers, or feathers that look like fur.
They take me at my word.
I wish that I could bring all of the children to a poultry show. What would they draw afters seeing this Ancona pullet?
I tell the children that chicken legs can be any color – grey, yellow, red, black. Now that I’ve been to the poultry show, I’ll add spotted to that list. I can’t wait to see what the children draw after my next visit!
PS I’ll be doing a storytime at the Concord Public Library on March 16. Please come!
A poultry show as large as the Northeastern Poultry Congress always contains surprises. I’ve gone for years, and yet each visit yields at least one stop-me-in-my tracks, oh my gosh, what is that? moment.
I’m sure that most of you have read about the recent research that points to feathered dinosaurs. In fact, this article says that certain dinosaurs had feathers colored like a Speckled Hamburg!
Some modern day chickens look more dinosaur-like than others. This Red Pyle Modern Game cockerel has an ancient look about him. But, he still looks mostly chicken.
But, this guy looks all dinosaur to me.
This young cockerel (hatched in May) is a Malay, which is a very old breed that originated in Southeast Asia. Mature, a Malay rooster stands 3 feet tall.
He looks like a fellow not to mess around with.
But, luckily, I met his breeder, Vlad, who handles and trains his show birds, and says that although his Malays will chase cats off of the property, that they are sweeties with people. I was walking around the show with a group of folks who read my blog, and Vlad let everyone pet this phenomenal bird.
And then I got to hold him.
I held a dinosaur.
I do love old egg baskets. So, when I stopped at an antique coop on Saturday, and spied a wire basket that I didn’t yet have in my collection, I couldn’t resist. I have one of this style, but not of this size!
The vintage basket that I use daily is on the right. The new, super-sized basket is on the left.
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Of all of my baskets, I think that this style is the most practical. The little feet on the bottom keep the eggs from smashing if I set the basket down too quickly (as I have done, and have had broken eggs to show for my carelessness.) The shape keeps the eggs securely in the basket, even if it tips, or a dog knocks it as I walk (again, spoken from experience!) The handle is comfortable and secure. All in all, a design that is both beautiful and functional.
But, perhaps I am being a tad too optimistic thinking that my new basket will be useful in the barn? The four eggs a day that I’m currently collecting would roll around in it and crack. So, I have brought the basket inside to display the eggs that I have blown out. They used to fill a bowl in the dining room. That basket is so large that now it looks like a small collection.
This is a cabinet in my entry hall. It’s a seed chest from a southern hardware store. Perhaps in years past it held a similar basket, holding eggs for sale.
It’s mating season for the Red Fox. We see their tracks in the snow. We hear them at night, close-by in woods behind our house, yip-yipping to each other. In the daytime, I see them from my office window, trotting across the meadow.
I’m glad they’re here. Foxes are beautiful creatures, and keep the vermin population in check. But, it’s best to take precautions. We’ve been tucking the hens in earlier at night, and waiting until well after sunrise to let them out. And good dog Lily has been letting the foxes know where their turf ends and hers begins.
