October was, by any measure, an extraordinary month for really big chickens. RBC field operatives across four continents reported a surge in large poultry sightings, and our inbox has been overflowing with submissions from chicken owners who believe their birds deserve recognition.
After careful evaluation using the preliminary version of our assessment criteria (the full 47-point system was still in development), we're proud to present October's five biggest chickens.
Big Gerald arrived in our inbox with a single-line email: "My chicken is really big. His name is Gerald. So is mine." We almost dismissed it. Then we saw the photos. Big Gerald is a Light Brahma of almost incomprehensible proportions. At 17.2 lbs and standing just over 27 inches, he is, without question, a really big chicken. Human Gerald reports that Big Gerald "basically runs the household now" and "has his own chair." We see no issue with this.
The submission for Dame Fluffington came with a 3,000-word essay on the "philosophical implications of chicken size." We read every word. Dame Fluffington is a Buff Cochin whose feathering is so profuse that her owner initially didn't realize she'd gained four pounds over the summer. "I thought she was the same size," the owner wrote. "She was not." Dame Fluffington's Feather-to-Body Ratio is among the highest RBC has ever recorded.
Hank's email was brief: "This is Steve. Steve is big." Attached were seven photos, all of which confirmed Hank's assessment. Steve is a Black Jersey Giant who appears to have taken the "Giant" part of his breed name as a personal challenge. At 16.1 lbs, Steve is big. Really big. RBC big. Hank declined to provide additional commentary but did note that Steve "doesn't like being measured" and "has opinions about strangers."
Princess Layabout is a Buff Orpington who, according to the Hendersons, "does absolutely nothing all day except be large." She doesn't chase bugs. She doesn't forage. She sits in the garden like a feathery boulder and waits for food to come to her. And at nearly 14 lbs, who's going to argue? The Hendersons describe her as "basically a throw pillow with a heartbeat." RBC considers this a compliment.
Klaus submitted Thundercluck with the note: "In Germany, we take all things seriously. Including chicken size." Thundercluck is a Dark Brahma with feathered legs that Klaus describes as "like small trees." At 15.3 lbs and an imperious disposition, Thundercluck reportedly governs a flock of 23 hens with "Germanic efficiency." We have no reason to doubt this.
Honorable Mentions
Several chickens narrowly missed the top 5 this month, including "Biscuit" (a 12.8-lb Langshan from Oregon who reportedly responds to his name), "Absolute Legend" (a 13.2-lb Malay from Australia whose owner insists is "not aggressive, just assertive"), and an unconfirmed sighting of a truly enormous Dong Tao in rural Vietnam that we are still investigating.
Submit Your Chicken
Think your chicken deserves to be on next month's list? RBC (Really Big Chicken) accepts submissions from chicken owners worldwide. We're looking for chickens that are really big — that's the main requirement. If you're not sure whether your chicken qualifies, it probably does. Big chicken owners tend to know.
For more about what RBC stands for (Really Big Chicken), visit our homepage. And if you missed it, read about the chicken that started it all.
— The RBC Team