Tour de Coops

Earlier this month Chickie Daddy and I signed up for the Tour de Coops, a self lead cycling tour through Broad Ripple and a few surrounding neighborhoods to check out other flocks and coops. Our local ag shop, The Agrarian, organized it and we had a blast (once Chickie Momma remembered how to ride a bike and stopped freaking out every time a car would be coming up behind her on the sans bike lane roads).

As we rode around town we quickly realized that 1) our girls are very spoiled; 2) we have a better than most yard for chicken exploring; 3) that the girls live in a very similar home to lots in the area. Although the tour didn’t necessarily provide new ideas for Coop 2.0, we got to see lots of chicken breeds not currently living in our yard.

The most creative coop by far was a re-purposed play structure where the lower part of the tower had been closed in for a roosting area and nesting boxes and a run attached to the side. Since the tower part of the structure remained in tack, you could still climb up and listen to the chickens below. This coop was home to a Buff Laced Polish that had flair nearly rivaling Miss Amelia’s.

Looking at the route we realized our house would be a great addition for next year, especially when a stop on the street over from the house was on the map. Leave it to chickens to get you out meeting your neighbor!

The most exotic stop by far was tucked away by the White River where we heard the low purrs of an emu pair while bantams ran around in the yard and a hairless cat and 2 dogs stole the show. Seriously though, emus? In the city limits? I get that it’s Broad Ripple and all, but clearly I need to study the ordinances better!