At this moment, three young chickens are poking around my backyard. Sometime before the sun sets, they will all wander into their coop, and put themselves safely to bed. They have a bedroom in the upper half of the coop, and it’s extremely entertaining to watch them hike up the ramp.
In fact, chickens are strangely fascinating. My husband and I have taken to hanging around in the backyard, just so we can watch them. Each bird has its own personality. The General is brave, bossy and friendly. Cashew is aloof. Tweety is timid, until the food comes out, and then she’s a brazen little thing.
If you’re interested in trying out urban chicken ownership for yourself, you can get a good start this Saturday at the City Chickens Coop Tour. Your ladies will need a place to call home, after all. You don’t want them living in your home, that’s for sure. Chickens don’t house train.
Seattle Tilth also offers a course on keeping urban chickens. The next one is in early August. I took the class early this spring and found it fun and informative. Did you know, for example, that chickens originally came from the jungle? Kinda hard to picture when I look at them poking around my backyard. Maybe that can be an excuse to not mow so often…
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
