Funky Chickens

Labor Day weekend in Washington County, Ohio means the Washington County Fair, which provides the best opportunity all year to view obscure breeds of domestic chickens. These birds are raised by local farmers and 4-H kids and brought to the fair to compete for prizes. They live for the five days of the fair in small cages suspended at about waist height. Below the cages, piles of poop-absorbing sawdust are scattered (and blessedly changed regularly).

Every year we spend an hour or more looking at the chickens. Sometimes the notion of keeping some chickens on our farm rises in our brains. Then the reality of our coon-and-possum-and-weasel-filled woods settles in and we decided it's better just to enjoy these lovely beasts vicariously.

Here are some of this year's best-looking cluckers.

The poultry barn houses chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and rabbits, too.

Dig the feet on this rooster!

All puffed up and ready to crow.

I think this Escher-print chicken is a barred rock, but I could be wrong.

This guy reminds me of Foghorn Leghorn.

Some of the color combinations are very pleasing. But how do they taste? Just like chicken!

I think I know where Tina Turner got the inspiration for her hairstyle.

This looks more like fur than feathers.

Moptop.

Let's see your eyes. Yeah, baby!

This bird reminds me of the tropical guans and tinamous.