We have some new additions to the family! After several weeks of planning and preparation, the Museum welcomed four rambunctious chickens to our newly renovated chicken coop.
Meet our girls…all named after native California plants!
SAGE
- Our bold leader and dominant hen
- Ayam Cemani with black feathers that can shine beetle-green in the sun. Due to her unique genes, she is actually black in color both inside and out!
- A bit of a diva sometimes, but highly intelligent and eager to solve whatever puzzles we can create.
- Most often found on the highest perch available keeping a watchful eye on her family.
BUCKWHEAT
- Our fearless explorer
- Cream Legbar with brown, black, and yellow speckled across her body.
- Fairly confident venturing off on her own, but mostly likes to investigate where the people are.
- Most likely to be spotted perching snuggly on a staff member’s shoulder, pecking at their shoelace, or hopping between their hands in search of a tasty treat.
CHAMISE
- Our go-getter
- Cream Legbar just like her sister, Buckwheat, only lighter in color and a bit smaller in size –at least for now! This may change in the near future as they continue to grow.
- Very enthusiastic at feeding times, and definitely not afraid to compete fiercely with her sisters in order to steal as many of the snacks as possible.
- The only activity that she prefers over lunchtime is her spa time! When she takes a dust bath, she nestles down with her eyes closed and begins chirping softly.
POPPY
- Our cautious observer
- Silkie with downy soft grey feathers, and beautiful feathered feet.
- Our quietest of the brood, she prefers to let her sisters to take the lead in deciding where to go and what to do.
- Usually found in Sage’s shadow –looking to her fearless leader to let her know if the area is safe.
- As long as her sisters aren’t too far away, she is eager to learn new tasks and likes being carried around the Museum to make new friends.
Our girls are currently only about eight weeks old, so they still have a lot of growing and learning to do. But in the meantime they are finally ready to make their official public debut. Starting December 18, they will be living outside in our Nature Play area and there will be regular opportunities to meet our girls up close –and possibly feed them as well.
To keep up to date with the latest chicken news, come visit us at the Museum or follow us on Instagram or Facebook. You can also check out our other blog about chicken training!
Join us in welcoming these girls to the family!
About the Author
Hannah is an educator at San Diego Children's Discovery Museum, and no stranger to chickens and other animals. She has a background in both zoo education and animal behavior research, and a B.S. in Environmental Studies from UCSD. Giraffes are actually her favorite animal, but since they don't fit very well inside the Museum doors, chickens are the next best option! Helping to raise/train these chickens has been a really fun challenge so far, and she can't wait for our visitors to fall in love with these girls just as much as she has.