Just curious? Who names all their chickens and who doesn't?

[acid_chipmunk]

All of our roos are named, because that is how we mark eggs. Most of the girls have names, but not all. My BL Polish girls, only the two smooths have names, because I can't tell the frizzles apart to give them names.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Mine always have names. If they didn't, they'd have to have numbers or how would you know who you're talking about, when you discuss them? If one goes broody, scraped a toe, needs a nail clip, is starting a hard molt, picked on another one, jumped the fence and got into the garden or any number of other things you might tell a spouse about, how would you tell them which chicken it was? At least names are easier to remember, at least for me.

I've used commonly used English names for an English breed, French names for a French breed, names that refer to their color or temperament. Sometimes particular behaviors or if they remind me of a character, either fictional or real.

Things like that always make it easier for me to remember. If I had several hundred because I was breeding they'd have leg bands, but I've never had that many. I've never raised more than 50 at a time and I didn't keep all of them.

I will admit to naming an entire batch of white boys headed for freezer camp all the same name. Elvis. As a group, they were refereed to as the Elvii.

 

[mulewagon]

We don't name ours - the first thing my husband said when we got them was, "Don't name the chickens!" And it's hard enough to slaughter those lovely roosters without thinking of them as individuals. We'll be slaughtering the hens, too, when their laying slows, though I know them by comb shape and personality, so that'll be hard, too...

Though I do distinguish the roosters as Mister Big Rooster and Mister Junior Rooster. Even though last week Mister Junior Rooster upset the order of nature and beat the stew out of Mister Big Rooster, so he's now the top guy!

 

[SallyF]

I usually name the rooster, just because I yell at (and about) him more often. Occasionally, I'll name a hen if she has some unusual look or characteristic; only have 2 names out of 10 right now... CrookedToe (curled toes on one foot) and Rosie (because she's red). Most of my hens are black sex-links and look very much alike so they don't get names. The rooster's favorite hen is always called Baldy, for obvious reasons, and Baldy's identity changes from time to time.

 

[PotterWatch]

I named them all at first but as we got more and time has gone on, I don't name them anymore. They still mean just as much to me as the first ones, I just can't keep track of all the different names now.

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

About 70 of our birds are named.

 

[hisdaughter]

I only have 4 and they have names. I also have 4 chicks, but they don't have names until I know what gender they are.

 

[acw123]

I have 16 Cornish rocks all named white chicken. 5 Buff Orpingtons all named brown chicken. 4 Australorps named Black Chicken. 1 Australorp named Slow Chicken (because bless her heart she is always two steps behind in everything). 2 Barred rocks named Stripey Chicken. 1 barred rock rooster named Little Rooster (he is only 7 weeks). 5 Barnevelders and 2 Easter Eggers named little chicken (3 weeks old). One Easter Egger named Happy Feet and One Easter Egger named Snow White. So out of the 38 only 3 have names and that is because they have earned them through their behavior or distinct looks. The others may earn names at some point but at this point I wouldn't really be able to keep them straight anyway. I love them all (well maybe not the CR's) and give them plenty of treats and attention, they aren't neglected but it sure is nice calling CHICKENS and they all come.

 

[perolane]

I'm guilty...mine all have names & I know each & every one of the 50 or so

 

[chickenzoo]

the ones with the most personality or our favorites or our most disturbed have names.... so that's about 1/2 of the 300 or so. I also have pedicure & beakacure days when i go around with cat toenail clippers and trim nails & beaks.