We jumped on the bandwagon last week and bought chickens. Chicks, actually, five of them. Just two days old when we brought them home, they’re about the cutest things you can imagine.
In case you’ve been caught up in more important things like the ongoing war in the Middle East or our sinkhole of an economy, let me bring you up to date. Chickens are big in Portland. It’s hard to find statistics, because you don’t need a permit unless you have more than three farm animals (chickens, goats, rabbits, ducks) within city limits, but I do know that Portland is a hotbed for people raising their own chickens for fresh eggs.
My kids have been interested in chickens ever since we started frequenting Pistils Nursery on Mississippi Avenue a few years ago. Every spring, they get several shipments of chicks, both Standard and Bantam (I’m really learning the lingo now!). Sadie and Sam love going in to fuss over the little baby chicks.
We’d never talked seriously about getting chicks of our own before; my kids were well aware that I couldn’t handle one more thing to take care of. For some reason, however, they must have noticed a dent in my armor this year.
Sadie is doing her homework and brushing her teeth without being reminded, as well as doing her own laundry. Sam can tie his shoes and frequently helps make dinner. My load of household chores is actually getting a little lighter. So in slip the chickens.
And I’ll tell you, sitting on the kitchen floor next to the 250-watt bulb with a two-day-old chick in my lap is one of the best antidotes to modern woes that I’ve found.
Pistils Nursery is located at 3811 N Mississippi; www.pistilsnursery.com. Another great place to get chicks, and loads of information, is the Urban Farm Store, which recently opened at 1925 SE Morrison; www.urbanfarmstore.com.
Submitted by Anne

February 24th, 2009 | Category: Metro Parent