We have two new additions to our fowl farm: Meet Catherine the Great and Pavelandreievich!
They are a breed of chicken called Naked Necks.
Now, here is the thing...I know they are not as drop dead gorgeous as (any) other chicken. They have few to no feathers on their necks and shoulders. The bare skin on an exceptionally long neck looks actually unattractive to most.
But let me tell you why these might be the most beautiful chickens there are.
They:
-are dual purpose meat and egg chickens
-lay a good quantity of large brown eggs
-are hardy to both heat AND cold
-go broody enough, but are not always broody, so they will hatch their own eggs
-are good moms for raising their own babies
-have incredible tasting meat
-are equally happy confined or free ranging
-are docile, calm, and gentle
-seem to be immune to most chicken diseases
-have an excellent food conservancy ratio so the food costs are down
-are excellent foragers.
So though they might look "ugly" to some, they actually are perfect homestead birds, providing meat and eggs in a sweet, calm, thrifty, hardy bird.
Let's even talk about their detractor--their lack of feathers. Actually this is a huge plus for the homesteader for two reasons. Firstly, they have much fewer feathers everywhere, not just their necks, so plucking is much quicker and easier. Secondly, because they have fewer feathers, more of the nutrition they take in is put to egg and meat production.
So even their bad points are actually great points.
To be honest, it sorrows me that people would pass over this chicken because it is not as stunning as other types of chickens. It shows such a shallowness that I also have to address in myself. How often have I chosen "pretty" over "good"?
This reminds me of what the Lord says in His Word. He does not judge by outward appearances but by the heart. He said this when He was choosing a new king for Israel and did not choose any of the 7 magnificent brothers, but rather chose the smallest, youngest brother, David.
Then in the New Testament, He tells us that He chooses the weak things to shame the strong, the things that are not to outshine the things that are. He does not look to appearances but to our hearts.
So I am training my eyes to see more deeply, and I am keeping two of the most beautiful chickens ever as a reminder of the Lord and His mercy and perfect wisdom :)
