B is for Bertha, Bessie and Blue Belle

I couldn't let B get by me without talking about Bertha, Bessie and Blue Belle, three of my hens.

Bertha is one of the group of my first six chickens that I got as pullets a year ago December, just as they were starting to lay. She established herself as the matriarch of the bunch right away. Bertha is a black sex link hen, a NH Red/Barred Rock mix and is the biggest in my flock. I endured nuns for eight years of grammar school, and Big Bertha reminds me of one of them in particular (who appropriately enough, was named Sister HENrietta).

Bertha giving me 'the stare'

Bessie was another of the original six and while the same breed mix as Bertha, she got more of the barred characteristics and had much lighter colored feathers.  Sadly, Bessie died last October from unknown causes.

Bessie and Bertha

Blue Belle is one of the six chicks I picked up last spring. They were supposed to be Production Red pullets (NH Red/RI Red mix) but two ended up being roosters.  Of those four pullets, Blue Belle is the feistiest and constantly taunts Jethro whenever they're outside together.  She will chase him and peck at him relentlessly, and Jethro loves the game and will chase her right back.  Jethro can pick her out of the flock immediately and it's quite comical to watch them play.

I've tried to get video with my cell phone, but they're too quick to catch a decent shot.

I'm taking part in the A-Z Blogging Challenge, where I will post something from each letter of the alphabet on the corresponding day in April, except for Sundays.  I will be posting on at least one of my four blogs daily.  You can see my other blogs in the sidebar - More of Marie Anne.