How do you name a chicken?

[FrostRanger]

When I got my initial 4 I went with naming them after the herbs in Scarborough fair (Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme) because I figured birds are musical creatures. Current birds are named after medicinal herbs (Juniper, Ginkgo, Vanilla, Ginger, Lavender, Basil and Chocolate Mint). Future birds will be named according to this. Ginkgo and Juniper's names are also references to other things as Juniper is also the name of a character from ace attorney (which is a game series I love) and the brothers Grimm tale the Juniper tree (it is arguably their darkest tale so be warned if you look it up) and Ginkgo's name is a reference to Ginko from the anime mushishi. Ginko is a really calm character and Ginkgo had an expression that just looked very calm and serene as a chick and that turned out to not just be for show, she is my boldest and friendliest hen and is usually the first to greet me

 

[Outgoing Orpingtons]

Features include patterns too!

 

[LuciferRoo]

My stepdaughter named most of the chickens.
I only named 2 Plymouth Barred Rock hens - Roxy and Rockette ...because I am extremely creative

 

[GoosesGeeses]

You name it.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Somehow all of the above and none of the above both at the same time! Mostly I just go by what feels right.

I've had a few chickens named for their color. Tiger had stripes as a chick and stripes reminded me of tigers. And we had a Buffy the Vampire Slayer who was, indeed, buff colored. Pepsi was a buckeye rooster we had who's deep red feathers made me think of cherry Pepsi.

I had a rooster called Ludwig because the cadence of his crow reminded me of Bethoven's 5th. One of my current roosters is Mr. Dancypants because he had a habit of dancing at me. One is named Littlefoot because his looong neck as a chick made me think of Littlefoot the "long neck" dinosaur from The Land Before Time. Lady Amalthea is named after the unicorn because her pale feather color made me think of that character.

Rose and Apollo are part of a tomato themed hatch. Treestar is named to fit the Land Before Time theme of his brother. Mr Darcy because I needed another Mr. name to match his hatchmate Mr Dancypants. Limu is named to match our legbar chick purchased at the same time. I called her Bibu because she was my chick and I like the way Bibu sounds. Limu and Bibu looked very similar as chicks and very different from the other chicks.

 

[Outgoing Orpingtons]

I go by what feels right too! That is what I mean by "I just look at them".

 

[StinkyAcres]

I usually come up with names before I get the chickens. I like to create a theme for each breed based on looks, egg color, the breed's country of origin, etc. Then when I get the chicks I'll assign a name to each one that fits their color and personality.

For example, my French Black Copper Marans are named after French egg dishes. My Olive Eggers will be Ivy and Pesto because they lay green eggs. And my Mottled Houdans will be Toque and Beanie because they appear to be wearing hats.

 

[ChickQueen77]

All of my Barred Plymouth Rock hens are named Pocahontas because they are Plymouth Rocks and my barred rock rooster is named John Smith

 

[SuZQ_SoCal]

I’m the namer of cats and hens in our family. My favorite little hen was the runt and I called her Lil’ Bit. Her sisters are Pixie, Trixie, Lolly, Spark, Maxi and Felix (I just realized I’ve got a thing for the x’s ).
I’ve got two old girls who I rescued from the shelter (nearly 10 years old!) and the first was Dumplin and the other is Darlin.

 

[SunriseChickers]

All of my Barred Plymouth Rock hens are named Pocahontas because they are Plymouth Rocks and my barred rock rooster is named John Smith

Lol, I love that!