The King Street Chickens
Friday, March 2, 2012 at 12:56PM I went on a walk to clear my head and ended up daydreaming about chickens, cupcakes and food trucks. I wasn't even hungry.
My mind wandered to other things too: another Tough Mudder challenge in October (I'm going to wrap a kerchief round my wrist this time and put it over my face when we run through the flaming bales of straw), going to a hotel to celebrate my twelfth wedding anniversary (twelfth!), seeing an orthopedist to examine my crooked body (one leg is significantly shorter than the other).
But mostly I thought about the other stuff.
I first noticed the chickens outside the house on King Street a few weeks ago. I was walking along at a clip when the sight of them pecking around the shrubs stopped me short. "What the bloody hell?" I thought.
I know some of you see chickens all the time, but I'm a city dweller and they're prohibited here. Though that doesn't stop people from keeping them. Our neighbors used to have some. The guy who kept them shared the eggs - out of kindness, maybe, but probably more to ensure no one narked him out. On early morning walks with Uma, the chickens would squawk loudly and she'd put her nose in the air to sniff them out. It always made me laugh.
Sadly, the neighbors split up and moved and the chickens went with them.
But the King Street chickens, they're different. The owners must have permission to keep them because they have free reign of the open yard which sits next to one of the city's major traffic arteries. Today, they pecked about in a dip in the yard just a few feet from the sidewalk. "Hello chickens," I called. I talk to cows too.
They're beautiful, these chickens, an assortment of colors: deep barn red, mottled, yellow? By my count, there might be a dozen.
What's the story? I'm going to knock on the door one day.
Also, wouldn't that make a great band name, The King Street Chickens?
I thought about food trucks too. I miss a lot of things about working in an office. Adult conversation and professional clothes among them. But lately, I've found myself envious of those of you who work in areas with food trucks. I never cared about the cupcake craze, but food trucks, now that's a fad I can rally around.
Our local public radio station aired a story this morning about the "giant outdoor food court" that lines Farragut Square these days. The story was about the D.C. Council moving to adopt a sales tax for the vendors, but all I could think about was the food. I've decided I'm going to take Tobias over there one day for a picnic lunch this spring.
That's all I got. Happy weekend, all.
Reader Comments (4)
Cupcakes are bullshit.
I was curious about those chickens on King and they are allowed for them because they have 200 feet between the chickens and another residence! The owners are Yates from the gas station on Braddock. I think you should blog about their chickens and the entire property! Cross-post on our blog!
I did some poking around on Google and stumbled upon a FB group for Alexandrians wanting to make chickens legal inside the city limits. They referenced that property as the only one in the city allowed to have the animals. I definitely want to do a story (not to mention buy the house!). I might pitch it to Drew first (you know, getting paid and all is more attractive than just writing a blog post). But I'll let you know and I'll definitely cross-post if he's not interested.
Also, Lisa, they ARE bullshit!
King Street Chickens is a great band name. Some years ago DC friend of mine (now married) really wanted to have a chicken or two for fresh eggs. She was wondering about the legality and I told her she was NOT allowed. Being a single late-30s chicken lady would be much much worse than being a single cat lady.