I love this story. It reminds me that chickens are hard creatures that can (sometimes) take care of themselves when given the chance.

In yet another victory for urban poultry, Gresham Oregon has decided to allow chickens in the city:

http://www.oregonlive.com/gresham/index.ssf/2009/12/gresham_council_gives_ok_to_ch.html

We have 2 young cats that will be around when you visit us at the new store. They are pretty lucky: the best food and lots of love from us and the customers. Hopefully they will help with mice…

Chickens start laying at around 6 months old and will lay for 2-5 years after that. They lay much more in the summer than the winter and, at times, they stop laying all together. This is usually caused by changes in the environment and sometimes by changes in their bodies. Hot weather or very cold weather can cause them to stop as can low light levels. Changes in food or feeding schedules, traumatic events, or moving hens can also stop laying for a short time. Molting, the annual replacement of feathers, will usually cause hens to stop laying for up to 2 months. Going broody (trying to hatch their eggs) will also prevent laying for up to 2 months. Low calcium levels can also affect laying so be sure to supplement their diets with oyster shell. Bottom line: many things can stop or slow laying but they will resume eventually. Use of lights in the coop for a few hours in the AM can keep your hens laying in the winter, but this may come at the expense of some longevity. 

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/food/2009/10/07/2009-10-07_recordbreaking_pumpkin_thought_to_be_worlds_largest_weighs_in_at_.html