While flipping through the dictionary last night I found two new-to-me and exciting words about chickens: kukekela and kelukelwane. 

  
Kukekela means to cackle, specifically the noise a hen makes after laying an egg. I know from living with so many chickens how in-depth this song can be. 

A kelukelwane is a bird without feathers on its neck. I thought something was wrong with my family’s chickens when I first saw their hairless necks, but I know now that they are a normal, traditional variety. I even have a few like this. 

Of all my chickens, this bare-necked rooster may love me the most.

Thandi’s day old babies. You can see the bare neck of the baby on the right.