About 2 years ago I heard about a growing movement referred to simply as “chickens in the city.” This movement was of urban families keeping chickens in the backyard. I knew there was at least one rooster in our neighborhood. My first interest was as a writer. The Hmong people I knew personally and through work would be really interested in this I thought. However in the course of studying up for my article and interviewing the then leader of the movement I became hooked. In April 2008 we bought 4 chicks at a local feed store–a Rhode Island Red, Patridge Rock, Blue Cochin and Americana. I didn’t know there were breads of chickens!

We brought them home (no cats at the time) and let the kids play with them. I was completely fascinated as well. I loved the way they walked and watching them for any signs of change. As their feathers started to change from down to their adult colors I finally got to see what they would be like when were older. Oh and when they laid their first egg I had to call everyone and tell them.

One day my big tough brother-in-law was over. By now the chickens were in a coop behind the house. He dared Two to go get a chicken. Two walked over grabbed one and brought it to his uncle, who immediately changed his tone and said, “I don’t want it.”

I do have to admit there was a turning point for me as well. The bigger they got the more nervous I got. One day when we had them in a pen on the porch waiting to transition to the outside world I went out to feed them only to discover they had escaped and were perching on the side of the pen. I had a momentary panic attack and was ready to go get Proeun to put them back when I realized, “if I am going to live on the farm I have to be confident handling the animals. I can do this.” And so I did. Now I am the primary one to handle them.

It is hard though to care for only 4 chickens. Most books about housing and such are geared at least towards a hobby farm with more space then we have. The other “chickens in the city” folk view their chicken different then country folk. We are having negative temperatures here and have had them for about a week with no end in site. We did go buy a heater for the coop but last year we used only a 100 watt lightbulb for heat during the day. Others on our google list advocate bringing them indoors as according to them chickens can’t handle the cold. However the main concensus is that they are doing just fine.

Also we had a period from October to December when 2 chickens were molting. They don’t lay when they molt. The 3rd one was not  laying either whatever her excuse was. So we had only one chicken laying and she didn’t lay everyday. We were in conservation mode. Finally I had to buy a dozen eggs. Now luckily they are all laying again even in the cold weather. One nice thing about having different types of chickens is you can tell what eggs have been laid by which chickens. Here is a picture of our bounty.

Two and Carrie taking and afternoon nap.

Two weeks after Mavis was born we were out running errands. Proeun’s paternity leave was almost up and we wanted to get as much done as possible so I wouldn’t have to go anywhere by myself during the first weeks after her birth. One of those errands was to pick up some chicken feed. We had seen a small independent place not too far away and wanted to try it out. When we arrived we saw some animals in a rabbit hutch by the door, I assumed they were rabbits and kept walking. Of course the children didn’t.

Turns out they were a couple litters of kittens that someone had dumped at the store. When Proeun asked how much the cats were and reply was, “they are free take them all if you like,” I knew we would be leaving with at least one cat. In the end we decided on 2 one for each of the older children.

Two had his eye on a cute gray one. Proeun was eyeing a black and white tom that showed particular spirit. We had been having mouse problems in the spring and fall and wanted to ensure that we had at least one mouser. On the way home Two announced that their names were Austin and Carrie.

Both have been beautiful additions to our family. While they are a little extra work the pay off is much higher. For weeks the children had their babies and I had mine. They carried their kittens around the house like proud parents. Carrie and Austin grew to be highly social with each other, our dog Hiro and us. But while Austin spreads his love around we noticed pretty early on that Carrie preferred Two and Two alone. She knows who her boy is and loves him to death. Two also knows who his cat is, he told me, “Carrie is my best friend.”

The two even sleep together at night and for naps. If for some reason we don’t nap at home or miss a nap Carrie is especially eager to sleep with Two the next day. I have been trying for days to get a picture of them sleeping together and yesterday I finally got one.

We haven’t seen any mice since they moved into our home.