The hottest chicks of 2009 have arrived at Lucky Cluck Farms.  You can see that we have some fabulous girls this year.  The biggest news is the addition of two roosters to the flock.  Oh yes, this is in direct response to the hawk that has taken out almost all of our banty hens.  We selected a White-faced Black Spanish for their striking appearance and tendency to forage far and wide (thus keeping an eye on wandering hens) and a Turken or Naked-Neck for their dramatic, bright red neck, comb and wattle.  Hen additions include a Turken and a Buttercup.  These lively beauties belong to Ram and already have names…Maggie and Buttercup.  Yes Buttercup is both the name of the chicken and the breed.  Cute isn’t it?  The alluring and striking Ancona will be owned by the Suryans and a chunky Buff Orpington (a proper English breed and quality layer) will be the new favorite of the Brodeurs.  Dawn has finally had enough time to heal from the traumatic loss of a most beloved hen, Beatriz, who was the most fabulous representation of her breed ever…the Speckled Sussex.  Anyway, Dawn will be adding a Speckled Sussex to her small flock and she has named her Maya.  Maya has big wattles to fill but I think we will all be rooting for her. 

 Oh Mom, can I take this one home?

Here are the riddles from the 2008 Lucky Cluck Farms Party!
(Answers at the end of the post)

1.
Don’t ask if I’m sick
Don’t call me a dick
Don’t say I’m a turkey
Don’t feed me beef jerky
Don’t run or hide ‘til May
I’M SUPPOSED TO LOOK THIS WAY!

2.
Rhode Islands are red
Andalusians are blue
Rocks are barred
And these are too

3.
I’m kind of a Dorking
My tail keeps forking
I’m part red and part blue
I’m bearded and muffed and feather-toed too
I’m from places both near and far
And I’m not quite sure who my parents are

4.
I ain’t lyin’
These fish are flyin’
Those birds are terns
These deer are ferns
Those bears go clammin
These chicks are salmon

5.
Old English are wattled
Javas are mottled
Jerseys are giant
Buffs are compliant
But the strangest bird in this place
Is the big black bird with the big white face

1. Turken
2. Dominique
3. Crossbreed
4. Faverolle
5. White-faced Spanish

We have a Turken now.  She is lovely and her name is Gretchen.  For the uninitiated a Turken is a breed of chicken. The breed also goes by the name of Transylvanian Naked Neck or just plain Naked Neck. I won’t tell you what Ram likes to call them (but you can guess). The Turken is certainly striking as they lack feathers starting on the lower part of the head and extending down to the crop. The American Standard for this breed requires the birds have a feather tuft about halfway down the neck. At first glance you may think that the turken is a cross between a turkey and a chicken, but this is incorrect. They are all chicken. It was first breed in Hungary, the purported purpose to make killing and plucking easier. Our hen is of the Buff variety. She’s exceptionally friendly, gentle and attached at the hip (only figuratively) to our new Salmon Faverolle (Ezme, the “love chicken”). So far all visitors to Lucky Cluck have had an opinion, a strong one I might add, about Gretchen the Turken. They either love her or are repulsed by her. I’m happy to say more people seem to love her than feel utter repulsion. Personally I think she’s just dandy and Ms. Fox deserves a big thank you for talking me into getting her (even if it did take three years of convincing).