Over Christmas, my nephew Lucas brought along his chicken book along with plenty of stories of their backyard brood in Phoenix. I had been talking about getting chickens for some time and this was just the encouragement I needed to get started. We ended up with two Barred Rocks and a Rhode Island Red about 8 weeks old which Lucas, Andy and I picked out at Hawthorne Feed in Escondido. 
Everyone helped get the coop in place
Everyone helped get the coop in place
Rosie, Matilda, and Zelda taking over
The pullets have adapted quickly to the backyard which they share with two dogs and a couple of cats. Little Bear initially tried to eat Rosie but L.B. has learned to be content with eating gophers and licking the cat... The pullets have appropriately acquired a taste for avocados and really believe they are the "top dogs" in the yard (walking straight over the sleeping Litte Bear instead of going around, challenging Molly for her avocado, and making a general mess). Now I just can't wait for them to start laying eggs...
