I was going to write a longer post today.

Instead I stopped by the Seattle Farm Co-op to get some goo to put on the pecked chick’s head that apparently “controls cannibalism” and other unsavory behaviors. Such as continue to peck a fellow chicks featherless scabby scalp.  Click here if you want to see a picture of that mess.  It is kind of gross. The giant scab fell off last night so it is looking smoother now.

Then I realized that a new Macrina Bakery had opened in SoDo. I had no idea it was there, but was hungry so popped in for coffee & a sandwich. Yum.

And then the forecast looked like this:  Next 10 days= Rain. 50′s.  Today was sunny and a whopping 61°F.   Naturally at 61° I immediately went outside in shorts, sandals, a sleeveless shirt and armed myself with my hori-hori (weeding knife) and got to work. I had some edging to install. Chickens to integrate. Clover lawn to lie on.

And apparently we have only had 27 dry days in 2011. Does that stat make you want to suck your thumb? It does me.  Really it isn’t the amount of rain that does you in, it is the consistency.

So instead I’m going to show off our new Polish chick.  She is a Golden Polish and she is stunning. And hysterical looking. She looks like a rock star. Or like she is wearing a (fake) fur coat with an incredible hood. Or like Tina Turner.

See what I mean?

Her name is Lady Guitar.  Actually, Lady Guitar II.  We had a Golden Polish chick last year that ended up being a rooster and he found a new home. We loved him. He was awesome. And quiet. Until he was the only roo left and began crowing nonstop. All day.

Polish hens actually aren’t from Poland. Really, why do they do this? And by ‘they’ I mean people who name things?  I think they deliberately try to mess with my head. The breed  actually originates from the Netherlands.   I first saw a polish hen on the Seattle Tilth Chicken Coop Toura few years back and had to have one. They just cracked me up and I had to learn more.

Checking out the garden for the first time

Incidently, if you are in the Seattle area and have an interest in gardening, urban farming, backyard animal raising, food justice or just looking at cool gardens definitely consider going. It is really fun, the gardens are fantastic and it is amazing to see how many ways people can urban farm!  We’ll miss it again this year because we’ll be on the West Seattle Edible Garden Tour (again! woot!) on the same day.

She looks lost.

Back to Polish hens.  They are said to be flighty, but it isn’t because they are a pain. They just can’t see so hot with that mess of feathers up top.  You know- they sometimes run into things. Or get spooked.  I find that charming.

They are reportedly not the greatest egg layers. But again. That hairstyle.  What you lose in egg production you make up for in laughs.   That being said Calypso, our year old hen,  produces 3-4 gorgeous smallish white eggs a week. So it isn’t that they are merely decorative.

I am in love with that head.

They can also be picked on.  I think it is jealousy of all that fabulousness in such a small 4½ pound bird but it is probably that they are easy prey with their bad vision and smaller stature. Our Calypso is the sweetest of our older gals- she is curious and engaged and no one pics on her.  So who knows.

Her coloring is awesome

They are a riot and I’ll always have 1 or 2 in our flock.  You can read more about Polish hens here.

More pics of Polish hens?  Of course!

You've met Calypso. She is 1.

Lady Guitar I. She was a rooster and found a new home.

Esmeralda...what a beauty! Esmeralda was a rooster too. White Crested Black Polish

Jesse was a buff polish chick. Also a rooster. Sigh. A noisy roo at that.

Esmeralda, the rooster again.

Funny knobby headed babies! Jesse & Lady Guitar I at 4 days old