Ever had that chicken who was supposedly a naturally unfriendly breed and yet turned out to be your best buddy? So it is with Cookie, my 6 month old Sicilian Buttercup girl. She was a last-minute decision at an order pickup from Meyer Hatchery, when one of the employees handed us a list of breeds leftover from that morning's hatch. Boy, was that the best hurried choice possible. After they handed us the extra box with her in, I braced myself for slight future disappointment from a beautiful chicken who most likely would never make up with me. But was I ever surprised when my first interaction with her was that tiny, speckled fluffball racing over to give my inviting finger an incredibly hard bite! Alex #2, a.k.a. MORE orneriness, had just arrived.
Why should it have surprised me that she and her closest friend, a Black Ameraucana named Boo, began to show their free spirits by becoming the first chicks to ever fly out of the brooder and follow us into the house? In fact, there came a time when we had to close the door to their room to keep them from making a mess of the kitchen floor. Those two silly partners in crime would launch themselves against the door in protest, as if to say, "HELLO! We want in, and you WILL let us in NOW!"
As Cookie continued to grow into a lovely young pullet, I began to noticed something strangely familiar about her quirky personality. Then one day it hit me. That mischievous outlook on life, that crackly voice, that automatic love of flying onto my arm upon request, that strong bond with me......it's my Alex all over again. However, Cookie is much more photogenic than Alex and loves to pose for the camera, with her signature look being a heartwarming cocked head.
Below is a gradual progression of her growth from a cute little chick to a gorgeous adult.
Cookie and Boo enjoying a warm day perched together on wooden beams in the barn.
There was one (one, mind you) morning when I didn't come to let the birds out early enough, and this girl sure let me know how she felt about my lack of promptness! Look who was "knocking" on the window to get my attention.
Cute little booger learned from the ducks how to drink water from the watering can.
Not that I mean to slight Alex in any way, but I must add that Cookie is actually a far better flier than her older counterpart. Not only has she practically soared across the yard, but she once ended up on the roof of their coop, which is about 9-10 feet tall. Perhaps this could be because she is so teeny-tiny and the smallest chicken I've ever had. Never have we had a large fowl bird who weighs maybe 2-3 lbs..
On a concluding note, I must say that breed reputation will never have any bearing on what I choose for my flock. I expected a flighty Buttercup with tendency towards hating human interaction, but what I got was a loving, ornery, funny, and docile carbon copy of Alex girl.
-Alex
Why should it have surprised me that she and her closest friend, a Black Ameraucana named Boo, began to show their free spirits by becoming the first chicks to ever fly out of the brooder and follow us into the house? In fact, there came a time when we had to close the door to their room to keep them from making a mess of the kitchen floor. Those two silly partners in crime would launch themselves against the door in protest, as if to say, "HELLO! We want in, and you WILL let us in NOW!"
As Cookie continued to grow into a lovely young pullet, I began to noticed something strangely familiar about her quirky personality. Then one day it hit me. That mischievous outlook on life, that crackly voice, that automatic love of flying onto my arm upon request, that strong bond with me......it's my Alex all over again. However, Cookie is much more photogenic than Alex and loves to pose for the camera, with her signature look being a heartwarming cocked head.
Cookie and Boo enjoying a warm day perched together on wooden beams in the barn.
There was one (one, mind you) morning when I didn't come to let the birds out early enough, and this girl sure let me know how she felt about my lack of promptness! Look who was "knocking" on the window to get my attention.
Cute little booger learned from the ducks how to drink water from the watering can.
Not that I mean to slight Alex in any way, but I must add that Cookie is actually a far better flier than her older counterpart. Not only has she practically soared across the yard, but she once ended up on the roof of their coop, which is about 9-10 feet tall. Perhaps this could be because she is so teeny-tiny and the smallest chicken I've ever had. Never have we had a large fowl bird who weighs maybe 2-3 lbs..
On a concluding note, I must say that breed reputation will never have any bearing on what I choose for my flock. I expected a flighty Buttercup with tendency towards hating human interaction, but what I got was a loving, ornery, funny, and docile carbon copy of Alex girl.
-Alex
