We live in an interesting neighborhood. We’re within the beltway of Boston, but our neighborhood sort of has its own personality. (Both the “Sons of Italy in America” and “Ancient order of Hibernians” are within walking distance of our place). Many of the houses are very old, built by families in the late 1800s. Because many of them were originally built to accommodate boarders, very little adjustment was needed to turn them into apartments. Most of them (like ours) are still owned by the grandchildren of those who built them with their own hands. Each house has a little yard in front and behind where some of the owners have planted gardens. Our neighbor, an elderly lady (who sounds like she’s speaking Italian even when she’s speaking English) has a beautiful vegetable garden and even keeps chickens in her yard.
This morning I was enjoying the bright sun streaming through the window, listening to the birds singing about the coming spring when I noticed the sound of the chickens cackling, too. And a thought occurred to me. This is the first time I’ve heard them since it turned cold last fall. Where have they been? Does she keep them in her house during the winter? Are you allowed to keep chickens in your house? In the basement maybe? What does it smell like when there are chickens living in your house? Or do you just eat that year’s batch and get new ones in the spring? How do people keep chickens in a cold climate like this? It’s starting to get to me…
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She MUST have a hen house??? I can’t imagine having chickens in the house. We are tossing the idea around to get a few chicken ourselves.
My sister hates it when people have chicken themed kitchens or restaraunts. She says if you ever raised chickens, you would not not want to be eating in a room associated with their living quarters!
I can’t see one from our window, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have one. But if there’s a hen house, then do they heat it during the winter? And wouldn’t we still hear them cackling occasionally? I’m still baffled.