What’s in a Name?

Apparently we should not have named one of our Rhode Island Reds after Olympic runner Jesse Owens. Lately, she’s been getting in touch with her “maleness”.
Much more interesting is lesbian activity between chickens. Not so violent as chicken heterosexuality, lesbianism in chickens results when the dominant hen mates with the attractive underling. We have observed some curious configurations in the field. The dominant chicken might mount "the bitch", (usually the same chicken gets this honor every time), while the other chickens circle quickly around, become rigid and stare intensely at the dominant chicken, acting as supports or balance points so that it will not topple over during "the act" (whatever that is for lesbian chickens...) You too may notice some rather organized lesbian activity in a flock comprised only of hens. This is normal. They're not really hurting each other, though at times it may appear so. Apparently they all find it entertaining.

You know, in case you were considering hosting a chicken movie night and were wondering what kind of things they like to watch.

From Raising Chickens: Chicken Needs

Comments

C. August said…
This is the strangest thing I've ever read. Today.
August 10, 2010 at 8:32 AM
Lynne said…
You never know when chicken sexuality may come up in conversation. I'm glad that I could help you become a better informed individual.
August 10, 2010 at 9:00 AM
HaynesBE said…
Have I ever told our about our hen that crowed? When cooped with all hens, she behaved like a rooster. I had to put her in a cage in my garage where she laid her daily egg until I found a farm that would take her. (My neighbors have a problem with 5 AM crowing. Imagine that.) Once on the farm---which already had a rooster---she never crowed again.
August 10, 2010 at 1:28 PM
Lynne said…
Hah! See, C. August? If you were in a conversation with HaynesBE about her erstwhile crowing hen, you would no longer be shocked by its behavior.

Chickens make great pets for so many reasons, the first three being eggs.
August 10, 2010 at 2:01 PM
Stephen Bourque said…
Who knew it would be Jesse? Out of the eight, she was the one that we were worried about. She seemed so frail and small!
August 11, 2010 at 12:20 PM
Lynne said…
And let that be a lesson to ya!
August 11, 2010 at 12:34 PM
C. August said…
Have you informed your dear readers of all the names of your ChickenPets(TM)? (sing it now... ch ch ch chicken! a la the Chia Pet theme)

I, for one, would like to know the names of the other ones, since Jesse Owens is such a, um... unique chicken name.
August 12, 2010 at 10:06 AM
Lynne said…
Here I give all their names. Only Strawberry's name has changed to Ginger since she exhibited the same escape desires as Ginger from Chicken Run (funny movie). We did use the female spelling of Jessie, but that didn't seem to matter.

In case you're ever in the market for chickens, you should know that the Easter Eggers (Alpha, because she showed leader-like traits early on, and Barbie, once blond, fuzzy -- quintessential chickness) are the most productive layers and by far the friendliest birds of the lot. Their blue-green eggs are somewhat smaller, but beautiful.
August 12, 2010 at 10:31 AM
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