Thanks Hils! Talked with Geoff who said all seemed well at the coop!

Separately, but related, posted a new sign stating the following:

Attention - Area Under Video Surveillance - Vandals Will Be Prosecuted To The Fullest Extent Of The Law.

Vandalism Photos

Here are the shots that go with Susan's post...

HORRORS!

Someone vandalized the coop. Thankfully all the ladies are in tact and in bed for the night. A large hole as cut in one of the south panels and whoever climbed into the coop. Susan G., Hilary and I were able to do a patch job - not pretty by any means, but hopefully secure from the 4-legged potential intruders. Police were called and a report filed...Hilary will be posting photos. The most important thing to know is that again, our gals are in good order. Details to be shared via email.

-Susan

Friday, locks and dust baths

Yes, I agree, the hens are taking "dust baths" and I was just thinking this week that we need to incorporate a sand pit for them with the move.

I took home the found 8th lock, we cleaned it up, and it is now in working order, so we are back to locks on all doors!

Yesterday the hens were literally jumping up like dogs, trying to grab the snacks we had brought out of our hands. I think they get miffed if we show up now empty handed.

Sara

All's well...7 eggs today. Noticed two spots where the hens seem to be digging (if was definitely from the inside)...south wall of the coop, toward the west. They had not dug below the fence that is buried, but I am thinking something we might want to watch.

-Susan

Happy Monday!

3.21.11

One day after the start of spring, and all's well this morning. Will report in on egg count!

-Susan

More Water please!!!

Hello all - it seems with the warmer weather that the chickens are drinking more water. Tonight their water was all gone when Tom went to put them to bed. So I would suggest that we plan on filing both water containers for the day. Tom put one into the roost tonight, but I don't think this is a good idea in the long run. We got 6 eggs total today - 2 this morning and 4 this afternoon. This morning Geoff got to see on egg being laid - even got it recorded on his iphone! Very cool! Otherwise, all is well!

Erin and Tom Fahres

FYI - Gate

Hey all! An FYI - Cindy, the ECE para noticed last wed. that the gate had been pushed open despite that the lock was secured. She told me and I e-mailed Robert Shikiar, who was on duty that day. He noticed the same thing. Chickens were well and acounted for. He surmised that someone must have pushed down on the gate to get it open. So, as we're all out admiring the chickens, we may want to double check to see if the gate is secured. - Amy A.

ps - I think Cindy would love to come and observe the chicken care if anybody would be willing to give her a little tour.

First Friday

My first day on the job started off with serious resistance from my two little helpers.  I prodded the two foot-draggers (Eli and Ian) into the coop, where they waited reluctantly while I prepared everything before opening the roost.  Their low-key whining turned into screams of abject terror when the chickens came pouring out.

But after they realized this wasn't a Hitchcock movie, their horror quickly melted into delight.  In the end, the boys had a hard time tearing themselves away from the chickens.

We found five eggs today.  I guess the girls were ready for some late-night Friday partying because 5:45 pm was too early for them to go into the roost on their own.  I had to put each one in one-by-one.

Looking forward to next Friday.

Jued

New Rotation

The new rotation seems to be running fairly smoothly thus far. Please everyone be super dilligent about making sure all seven locks are secure before you leave the coop. Reducing the number of locks on the "new" coop is pretty high on my priority list, along with some other suggested improvements.

We got 7 eggs yesterday, and Elli was mad I had already planned dinner (lentils.) Actually she would probably been miffed at the lentils regardless of the eggs.

Changing Denver Zoning

Cut-and-pasted from an e-mail blast forwarded from Sustainable Food Denver regarding changes in Denver zoning for chickens.
Lucy
*****

Hi all,

Thanks to the community support that urban FPAs have received, we're getting closer and closer to presenting the ordinance to City Council. However, now is the time when it's more important than ever to make our support for this issue known. Those that (for one reason or another) oppose the idea of backyard chickens and goats are starting to get ramped up, so we need to support our city agencies and our City Council in making these sustainable changes for Denver.

Important Events -- Please Come If You Can!

FPA Informational Forum

Monday, March 7th

6:00-7:30pm

The Tivoli, Room 320s

More information: http://bit.ly/ibis5P

Denver Planning Board

Wednesday, March 16th

3:00pm (meet at 2:30 if you want to speak)

Webb Building, Room 4.F.6

*Wear green*

The Planning Board will be hearing the proposed ordinance. The ordinance has to make it out of Planning Board before it can move along in the process. The public has the opportunity to speak in favor or against the ordinance. Everyone who signs up before the meeting will be given a 3 minute slot. I'd like to arrange for a long list of speakers who each focus on a different benefit of the FPA ordinance, so we can cover everything (economics, environmental, financial, health, food safety, etc etc). Of course, if you want to come and just say what you please, you're more than welcome to, but some sort of coordinated presentation would be very helpful. Those of us who are speaking will meet at 2:30 to sign up and coordinate. If you plan on coming and are willing to speak on behalf of FPAs, please let me know.

Land Use, Transportation, and Infrastructure Committee

Tuesday, March 22nd

10:30am

*Wear green*

City and County Building, Room 391

This is the same deal as above -- the FPA ordinance has to get through the Land Use Committee (and get through it without a whole bunch of changes) before it can go to City Council for a vote. However, although this is a public meeting, there is not an opportunity for the public to speak except at City Council's invitation. We can still attend, though, to show our support and listen to the proceedings. If you have a green shirt, scarf, hat, etc -- wear it with pride!

----------------

Upcoming RNO Meetings

The following are a list of upcoming RNO meetings where SFD will be speaking in favor of the FPA ordinance. If you live in one of these neighborhoods and want to attend the meeting to show your support for FPAs, please let me know and I'll send you more information.

Just an additional bit of good news -- last night we spoke at the La Alma/Lincoln Park and the Stapleton United Neighbors RNO meetings. Both groups voted to issue a public letter of support to City Council in favor of the FPA ordinance!

University Park

Tuesday, March 1st (short notice, I know)

7:00

Greater Park Hill

Thursday, March 3rd

6:30

Curtis Park

Thursday, March 3rd

6:30

Concerned Citizens for Barnum

Tuesday, March 8th

6:00

(we're not actually speaking, but this is a candidate forum, and we'll get a chance to interact with CCB folks)

Berkeley Regis United Neighbors

Wednesday, March 9th

6:00

Southwest Improvement Council

Thursday, March 10th

5:30

Highland United Neighbors

Tuesday, March 15th

7:00

Congress Park Neighbors

Wednesday, March 16th

7:00

(we're not on the agenda, but we're going anyway)

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Thanks,

Sundari

-- Sundari Kraft

Sustainable Food Denverwww.sustainablefooddenver.org

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