Oh, Coop!

The coop is one week away from being ready, I think we are in trouble!

5/2 Update: We are running out to our local home improvement store to pick up supplies to build a secure fenced in area for the pullets. It's raining here in the SF bay area and I have ever built a fence before so it will be a challenge and muddy I presume. Wish me luck! I'll post before and after pictures of the backyard soon. I can't wait to get the lil buggers out of the sewing room, they are starting to smell "fowl".

Saturday in the Yard

Saturday was the first day the chicks got to check out the backyard. We are waiting for the coop to be completed and they are still living inside with us. Everyone loved being out in the dirt investigating the area. Jessica's take on what they might be saying was: "What's that, what's this, can I eat this, & I'm gonna eat that" I think she was right! I hope the coop is finished soon they are getting mighty big.

Telephoto Hens

So here they are, rooster, chicks and all! I went back today to get some better photos and they were all ready for their close-ups. From what I could tell we've got a Red Jungle Fowl rooster, a couple of Ameracunas or Araucanas , a few Australorps (with chicks!), a few mixed breeds and a Orpington or Rhode Island Red hen. I welcome any takes on the breeds especially the red hen at the bottom!

Black Australorp

Ameraucana or Araucana?

Is she a Buff Orpington?

The Coop at the End of My Street

I've known about it for awhile, I'm mustering up the courage to knock on the owners door and have a friendly chicken talk with my unknown urban chicken raising neighbor. I have gone to the front of the house but it has all sorts of "beware of dog" signs posted so I've been too "chicken" to knock on the door. While I was taking my stalkerazzi photos from the street I could see chickens of all ages running in and out of the shrubs, I'm going back with the telephoto lens to get better pics. You can hardly make out a black hen to the right of the upside down wheelbarrow in the photo above, nice coop anyway.

Another Day at the Office (sans chicks)

Jessica and I started Urban Escapes in 2oo6, since then my work days seem to fly by. I am one of the lucky few who gets to do what I love for a living. Below is a small sampling of my hike with the doggies today.

Annie plays keep away from Kiko with a stick

Kiko chases Abbey

Annie looking pretty in the lupine

Little Helpers

Lacey a Golden Wyandotte at one week.

Pippi - shown here about four weeks of age.

This week has been a exciting one already! The launch of Aroo Studio my dog collar company has been keeping me very busy. The chicks are temporarily being housed in a 110 gal. storage bin in our sewing room and have really gotten used to the sound of the sewing machines. We have been sewing like mad to get items done for our website photos and just love the company of the chicks as we work. I and even the dogs (all four) have grown accustomed to the sweet sound of happy peeping. It will be hard to have them in the backyard separate from the rest of the family but I know it's for the best.

Time Flies

The chicks have started to fly short distances. Coraline is preparing for takeoff in the photo above. Her favorite roost is now the at top of the feeder and her aim for landing is spot on. Today she flew from my desk to the chair back and landed like a pro! Violette, Madalyn & Lacey have yet to take flight, but I could see just how excited they were to do it as they watched their sisters land on top of my camera.

Mabel shows off her fine feathered feet.