A story about a breed of chickens:
11 years ago (holy cow, has it been that long?!) I ordered chicks from a hatchery and they included a free "surprise" chick. It turned out to be a Belgian Bearded D'anver hen. This was the sweetest chicken I have ever met! Through the years I have had silkies, chabos, seabrights and other assorted bantams, but I have never had a chicken that loved me as much as this girl did.
She was just so flippin' cute! Tiny little thing, she was never afraid of me, would eat out of my hand and follow me everywhere. But what go me the most was she would fly up on my shoulder and cuddle! She would sit there and coo in my ear or peck my hair like she was getting bugs out (I swear, there were no bugs). I would be out doing yard work, gardening and whatnot and she would fly up and sit on my shoulder and stay there. My husband would yell out the window "hey crazy chicken lady, the neighbors are going to think you're nuts!" I didn't care, I loved her to death. It was like having a parakeet, but it was a chicken. Unfortunately a hawk discovered my flock and picked them off one by one and eventually got her too.
Every year either my husband or I would bring the subject up: "hey, remember that little Belgian Quail we used to have that was so sweet? I wonder if it was just her, or if that's how the breed is? She was the cutest thing, we should get some more and see if we can get another like her." Years passed and I never did. I figured it was just an anomaly.
Fast forward 11 years (holy cow, has it been that long?!) I'm ordering chicks and decide to get some Belgian Bearded D'anvers. I add 10 to my order. They are a month old now and I cannot believe that they act just like her!! I have them in a pen in my barn and I went out there a couple days ago and one flew up on my shoulder. Then another flew up on my head and started pecking and scratching through my hair. (still no bugs) They did it again today! They coo in my ear and walk around on my back and shoulders. My husband said "maybe they just like to roost up high." I said "NO, they love me!"
Ohmygosh, these are the sweetest chickens!
Here's a pic of the hen from the past:
11 years ago (holy cow, has it been that long?!) I ordered chicks from a hatchery and they included a free "surprise" chick. It turned out to be a Belgian Bearded D'anver hen. This was the sweetest chicken I have ever met! Through the years I have had silkies, chabos, seabrights and other assorted bantams, but I have never had a chicken that loved me as much as this girl did.
She was just so flippin' cute! Tiny little thing, she was never afraid of me, would eat out of my hand and follow me everywhere. But what go me the most was she would fly up on my shoulder and cuddle! She would sit there and coo in my ear or peck my hair like she was getting bugs out (I swear, there were no bugs). I would be out doing yard work, gardening and whatnot and she would fly up and sit on my shoulder and stay there. My husband would yell out the window "hey crazy chicken lady, the neighbors are going to think you're nuts!" I didn't care, I loved her to death. It was like having a parakeet, but it was a chicken. Unfortunately a hawk discovered my flock and picked them off one by one and eventually got her too.
Every year either my husband or I would bring the subject up: "hey, remember that little Belgian Quail we used to have that was so sweet? I wonder if it was just her, or if that's how the breed is? She was the cutest thing, we should get some more and see if we can get another like her." Years passed and I never did. I figured it was just an anomaly.
Fast forward 11 years (holy cow, has it been that long?!) I'm ordering chicks and decide to get some Belgian Bearded D'anvers. I add 10 to my order. They are a month old now and I cannot believe that they act just like her!! I have them in a pen in my barn and I went out there a couple days ago and one flew up on my shoulder. Then another flew up on my head and started pecking and scratching through my hair. (still no bugs) They did it again today! They coo in my ear and walk around on my back and shoulders. My husband said "maybe they just like to roost up high." I said "NO, they love me!"
Ohmygosh, these are the sweetest chickens!
Here's a pic of the hen from the past:
