Creatures of the Tiny Green Cottage

Rosemary

(Silver-Laced Wyandotte and Alpha-Hen)

Gwendolyn

(Barred Cochin and Brooder)

Valentina
(Australorp and Belle of the Cottage)

Penelope

(Barred Plymouth Rock and Rabble Rouser)

Drucilla
(Ameraucana and Adventurer)

Biscuit

(Domestic Short Hair and Flirt)

Siouxsie Mew

(Manx and Spoiled Princess)

Moving Out

At this point, the Brips were so large it was becoming more and more difficult to contain them in the brooder. Their food, water and bedding was consistently dirty and I had to change the cage about three times a day.

They were insatiably curious and hungry at all times and began flying out of the brooder to explore the bathroom. Between cleaning their cage and the bathroom floor on a daily basis, I knew it was time for them to go outside.

Growing Urban Chickens

After two weeks of taking residency in our bathroom, the chicks (or the Brips as I began to call them) began to develop at an extremely rapid rate. Their adult feathers and patterning began to come in and they entered a gangly, not-so-pretty phase which I coined 'Gawkward'.

The Brips quickly learned that they had wings--and took every opportunity they could to use them. They often sat on the edge of the brooder and practiced flapping while in a stationary position. It was entertaining to watch, but my motherly instincts took hold and I knew that it was almost time to move them outside into the real world--they'd grown too large for our cottage bathroom!

Homecoming

In early March of 2008, I visited Growing Gardens in North Portland and came home with three chicks--all impossibly tiny, with blue eyes, tiny waxen combs, and shimmering jewel-toned feathers.

My husband had set up a brooder and heat-lamp in our bathroom in preparation for their home-coming.

I immediately fell in love.

They were all so alive, and so different in their personalities! I named them Rosemary, Valentina and Penelope and it was clear from the start Rosemary was the alpha-hen!

In this image (clockwise): Rosemary (Silver-Laced Wyandotte), Valentina (Australorp), and Penelope (Barred Plymouth-Rock).