As often happens, I was approached by a mate to fold a model for him (MJ) – he wanted a “Chook” for a surprise gift for his wife (Nikki) on her birthday. I love a challenge, so began looking for the best origami chook.

Turns out there are LOTS of roosters out there, but relatively few hens that looks like hens – I wanted feathers, volume and a playful but realistic chookiness and found in Makoto Yamaguchi’s beautiful book “Transcendent Origami”, a chicken designed by Kyohei Katsuta that I knew I needed to fold because it was perfect.

After doing a test fold, it became apparent that it was a 2-part model (top half has the rings and tail, comb and wattle) and the bottom half has the legs, beak and fluffy bum. It is a colour change model so with some careful “Kimiroing” I was able to use 2 sheets of glorious black spattered Shadow Thai (from origami-shop.com) that has Rorschach-like inkblots on one side, black mulberry on the back. The black was perfect for feet and beak. I laminated some red Kozo in the spot that would become the comb and wattle and I was away.

From my test fold, I was able to guestimate the paper size to make the chook more or less life-size – well, more of a bantam, but large enough for my purposes.

The sequence, although described in Japanese, is a joy to fold, the heavy Shadow Thai paper (65gsm on the packet but it feels much thicker) took folds beautifully and gave the model a lovely volume as layers accumulated. The tricksey part of the design is the partial folding of both halves before you slide the bottom up into the top before final shaping. This then gives you access to the beak, positions the fluffy bum under the tail feathers and aligns the legs properly – quite genius design really.

Working out a way to display the model came next – I added wire armatures up the legs, each side disappearing up into the body to support and shape. I covered a Metamucil tub top with some of my hand-made cotton and kozo paper to make a tidy but durable stand and … she is done… nearly.

I had a pack of small googly eyes from another hair-brained scheme, and when I added them under her heavy eyelids it made me giggle – so cute, I knew she needed them – her stare is continuing proof that her head is nearly completely empty.

MJ came and picked up his, I then worked to finish mine – same specs and paper. Mine joins a growing flock of chooks that roost atop the cupboards of our kitchen.

My wife and I have accumulated our flock on our many journeys – each have their origin story and name. We have yet to name our newest addition – her name will come I am sure (each of the others went through a similar naming journey).