Ain't nobody here but us chickens

Sorry to have been away for so long. I've been distracted by bright, shiny objects.

We have some updates on the push to allow chickens in Northfield. My City Hall sources all tell me that: 1) the new pro-chicken language is just part of a larger Code update for the City. Unless someone picks it out, it is likely to pass without incident. Woot Woot! 2) There are several folks who are a part of the decision making process that really want this to pass and will stand up for it. Double yay! Finally, reading between the lines, I also inferred 3) there's no need (and please don't) raise a ruckus; it will only bring attention to something that will otherwise be a non-issue.

This blog is open to all so I don't know if everyone here and on Facebook is friend or foe to our feathered friends. If you are a friend, I would ask you not make a stink or a big deal out of this issue. I am going to do the same. I plan to stay in touch with the process at City Hall, and when it is approaching the vote, I'll let everyone know. At that point, I'll probably send a letter of support to my Councilmember but other than that, outside of this blog you won't hear a peep or a cluck outta me. If you are not a fan of chickens in Northfield, please educate yourself further before making a final judgment. If your neighbors keep chickens and they bother you, talk with them to see if something can mitigate the issue. If you think chickens belong in the country, think again. Many families kept a small flock of chickens in town for their own use; it's only in the last 40ish years that that's really changed. Don't believe me? Just ask The Google. Finally, if you think chickens are poopy, yucky and dirty, then I can't imagine what you think of toddlers.

As for my situation, I've been cleaning up the coop twice a week, adding more pine shavings that normal (especially in the wet weather these past few weeks), and trying to make things better between my neighbor and us. I wave when I see her. I've even stopped throwing empty beer cans in her yard. But I don't know that it's helping. We were never BFFs but now it feels awkward. Our yard is fenced but not private at all so she can see all of our goings-on and such, and it just feels uncomfortable to be 10 feet away from someone who dislikes you. On one hand, I don't want her to think she can dictate what we do and don't do. On the other hand, living in (a) community means not holding on to one's individual rights so hard that it chokes the life out of compromise and cooperation. And there is the real question of whether this neighbor will make such a stink that she will fight the new code (I've already overheard her talking to mutual neighbors about our chickens; she failed to persuade them that the chickens were a nuisance).

All that said, we are strongly considering sending our chickens to the farm. I don't mean that euphemistically. I mean a real farm. We had already been considering the future of the fowl before all this brouhaha. We are facing more school and work responsibilities and, as I've written, it does take some time to care for your chickens responsibly and well. Out of everything in our life, the chickens are the easiest--emotionally, practically, and financially--to cut out right not. I plan to keep chickens again in the next few years; hopefully, when our child is older, she'll want to raise chick(en)s.

Sending the hens packing is a little sad. Two of are chickens are just chickens--meh. But I have a real affinity for Tallulah (the barred rock) and will miss her. She makes the sweet chicken cooing sounds, is a solid and reliable layer, and is the friendliest of the three. It's also going to be an adjustment to have to buy eggs. Just last week, I was making pancakes and needed one more egg. I just went out to the coop and--voila--an egg. I'll miss that the most.