"For crowing there was not his equal in all the land…”
--Chaucer
Siobhan and I have always kept chickens. Presently we have eight nice laying hens and a fine young rooster; all are of the Mille Fleur d’Uccles breed, and are quite lovely to look at…Their name is French for “a thousand flowers”; it is an apt description of their beautiful plumage. Most d’Uccles are rather chummy by nature, and ours are no exception. The little bantams often seek out our company, and seem content to follow us about the farm. They are industrious little creatures, earning their keep by eating bugs in the garden and generously supplying us with eggs…
Siobhan and I find chickens to be entertaining, as well as useful; they delight us daily with their antics. They are bright-eyed with intelligence, and have wonderfully quirky personalities…
One of my favorites is Marigold; she is a dear little hen, but she doesn’t seem to think she is a chicken…Each evening, just before dusk, I coax the chickens into their coop for the night. They all go in ahead of me, clucking and fussing, except Marigold--she marches along beside me, with her chest puffed out and her wings slightly spread…looking for all the world as if she is saying “that’s it—go on in there, you chickens!”
Oleander is our young rooster, still sweet and somewhat shy. Living with so many hens, he approaches all of life with great caution…He crows beautifully each morning from atop his favorite rock-- but he falls off his while doing so…
Dahlia is our eldest hen, and a favored friend of mine. She is a gentle soul, and daily pecks the mole on my foot as if it were a bug. If I sit in the grass, she will perch on my knee…
Poppy is Siobhan’s particular pet. She has taught her to wear pearls and play a toy piano…Siobhan gives Poppy flying lessons—she carries the little chicken around the barnyard, tipping her gently from side to side, while Poppy calmly holds her wings out and pretends to fly...
Columbine and Aster are the greatest of mates—you never see one without the other; they often look to be gossiping as they wander about, clucking softly to each other…When these two are frightened, they bury their heads under the other hens’ bodies--often knocking them off their perch…
Iris, Lily, and Violet are our best layers, and would like to be mothers; but when it comes to sitting a nest, they all want to sit on the same egg!
Marigold
Oleander
Such is our little family of Mille Fleur d’Uccles. Though they be but small, Siobhan and I value our chickens highly; they are a necessary and an integral part of our life here on the farm. We love our "flowered" chickens; they are cheerful little creatures, and they bring much joy to our lives. They make us laugh.
When all is said and done, isn’t that what we all need—more cheerfulness, more joy and laughter?
Let a Thousand Flowers bloom!
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