| Yesterday morning I looked online and found an email from my stepdaughter's Girl Scout leader entitled "Another picture of the chickens" with the message body "They are odd looking- the kid was asking me if they are chickens or baby turkeys- but I think they are chickens." I took a look at the attached picture and replied that one was a naked neck chicken, the exact breed our 3-year-old wants as a pet (because she thinks it's funny to say "naked chicken"). Then I went about my other emails. But I had a nagging feeling because it said that it was "another" picture of the chickens. Where was the first email about the chickens?
I then found a second email from her entitled "Urgent - Free chickens - do you know someone who wants them?" with the message body "My student just asked me if I want these guys- she found them in the street. Do you have a contact who would want them?" and a picture of the same two lovely ladies as before.
Yes! Yes! I want them!!!! OK, so I know I can't have them, but I can dream, right? So I'll get the chickens, keep them here for a few days (just for fun) and then find them a happy home with a friend. Unless for some reason my situation changes and I can keep them. (The situation, as you may recall, is that chicken keeping isn't legal where I live, and my boyfriend doesn't want chickens until they are legal.)
Later in the day, I prepared a cardboard box with some newspaper and one of my cats' bowls filled with some rolled oats. Then I drove out to the address I was given, where I was met by three women (a mother and two daughters, I assume). The chickens were roaming around the patio, pooping everywhere. Literally, everywhere - chairs, the patio table, all over. The girl explained that she found them on the street and she likes chickens but can't handle the poop. Then, a mad chase ensued, and finally the mother caught both chickens and put them in my box.
At home, I approached my boyfriend sheepishly, telling him not to get mad because I swear this is just temporary unless he chooses otherwise. I said, "I need your help with something right now." He had been preparing dinner but he came outside. I told him my plans to cordon off a weedy area of the yard where the broccoli and peas used to grow with some dog fencing he had just bought. He did so immediately. (God, I love men. I wouldn't have even known what the hell to do but he ran inside, got some tools and just did it.)
The chickens were happy in their little enclosure until the dog came outside looking hungry (or maybe just curious). Both chickens flew up and perched on top of our fence. Crap. Them being able to fly away wasn't in the plans. My boyfriend used more dog fencing to make a smaller enclosure within the larger one and then attached more fencing as a roof on top. I was about as helpful as I usually am during operations that involve tools: I watched and took pictures.
Our makeshift coop
I've got about 5 different potential homes lined up for the girls, if we truly can't keep them. I told my boyfriend that I know the answer but I have to ask: Can we keep them? He said he'd think about it. After a few minutes he said, "If I lose the election, I'm going to blame it on them." And he's right. He's running for city council this year - his first time running for anything. Risking the election with chickens would be stupid. But is it really a risk? I wonder. Most people who learn that chickens aren't legal think it's a stupid law. And most other people just assume that it's legal to keep chickens.
So, for the next few days anyway, I've got 2 chickens. We're going to let the kids see them and then, most likely, we'll find them a new home. If, for some reason, we keep them, they need a proper coop with a place to perch at night and a nesting box and some bedding. Bedding might have to happen sooner rather than later, actually. Now if I just knew where to get some straw... |
