Heff

image from google; my pet chicken.com   (cool site!)

I was recently gifted with a trio of young Cochin chickens, a golden red rooster named Leif Eriksen and two lovely companions.  For those of you who are chicken-naive, a trio is a male and two females, a combination considered to be the building block for flock or lineage breeding.  

Cochins are feather-legged birds, and some are among the largest chickens in the world.  Like the above-mentioned Leif.  He took first place in breed and best in show overall in last year's county fair.  He is one handsome specimen.  And huge.  About thirty inches tall and fifteen pounds.  And loves to be cuddled.

Now, understand, he came with the name.  He has been rechristened, though.  After seeing him run out to greet me or to race over to check out why one of his hens is shrieking, I could tell that he reminded me of something...but, what?  I watched and watched.  One thing I knew for sure, he was not a Leif or a Sean Connery or a Rhett.  No.  He is huge and ungainly and thunderous and ponderous and all those other things that describe the not-so-graceful movements he makes.

He sways from side to side on densely feathered legs and feet, in an almost robotic movement. Then, it hit me!  

Remeber Winnie the Pooh?  Heffalumps and Woozles?  He runs like a Heffalump!

Ergo, his new name Heff.  Not short for the more obvious Heffner, after the legendary woman lover and Playboy king Hugh.  Heff for Heffalump!