Nella’s chicken

Okay, you got your basic Orpington. A good all-around chicken. Reliable, patient, not at all fussy, gets along okay in the winter. Lays a nice-sized brown egg, your Orpington. Never heard a valid complaint about them. A common chicken, but a fine one. Can’t go wrong with an Orpington, my daddy used to say.

And you got your Cochin. Big, Chinese chicken. Friendly as a barber, your Cochin. A peaceful chicken, friendly, never gives offense and gets along well with other birds. Easily handled, too. Had a Cochin once, liked to be carried around in an old L.L. Bean knapsack. Good chicken. Hated to eat her.

Then you got your Appenzeller Spithauben. Now that’s a fine-looking chicken. National chicken of Switzerland, I kid you not. A small, cantankerous bird, easily upset. Not worth a damn if you want to keep them in a coop. But you give an Appenzeller a small tree to roost in and you’ll get along just fine. Skittish around loud noises, though.

But you want a chicken that’s easy to care for, go for your Ceramic. That’s a docile, easygoing chicken. Worthless for eggs, but quiet and easy to care for. Your Ceramic is an all-weather chicken — good in the heat, tolerates cold. Not an adventurous chicken; won’t go wandering off and getting in trouble. Unafraid of snakes. Stupid as stone, your Ceramic, so avoid them if you’re looking for a companion chicken.

January 28, 2013 -- greg fallis

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