The Girls Nextdoor

Confessions of a Mother Flocker

The Origin Story of our Abbot Kinney Flock

I knew nothing about raising chickens a dozen years ago, but my family and I were about to open an urban farm and…well, chickens just sounded right. It certainly didn’t sound any crazier than opening a pocket farm on one of the priciest retail boulevards in the country. So my family and I were all in!

We started off adopting our first generation of chickens from a sweet family whose landlord was forcing them to relocate their flock of 18 month old pullets. This was a collection of breeds, named after celebrities and raised by hand by the whole family. Consequently all these girls were friendly and loved being held. I instantly knew that someday my family and I would brood our own generations of girls ourselves but also leave room for neighborhood family’s chickens and rescues to have a true forever home.

I learned so much those first few years and grew to love and appreciate the very different personalities each chicken possessed. As my attachment to the girls deepened, so did the relationship between them and the community. I grew use to the shrieks of joy and shouts of excitement from passers-by when they realized they had stumbled upon chickens on Abbot Kinney; a street where a man on stilts dressed like a tree, a dog riding a motorcycle or Justin Timberlake barely registers a raised eyebrow. This is the street where my flock lives.

It wasn’t until the second year when I was at the garden very early one weekend that I first realized just how close the community had grown to our sweet feathered family. Working out of sight, I overheard locals on their morning walks - mothers with toddlers in strollers, adults who I’d seen walking briskly past many times - stop in front of the run and quietly “talk” to them when they thought no one was listening. “Good morning, Ladies!” “How’s everyone feeling today?” Of course over the years, I have been told by my neighbors many times how much they treasure seeing the girls as a favorite part of their day. Certainly during and since COVID, the girls have taken on an even deeper meaning to our community. As is the case with interactions with animals in general, the girls have a calming effect on the humans they meet everyday and, especially now, we need that more than ever! Just after our world began to re-open, we installed a bench out in the parkway under the Tamarillo tree right across from the girls. We hoped this would inspire people still struggling with our world-wide situation to sit and stay awhile to find peace watching our flock. Since then, at any given time, you’ll see people from all walks of life: all cultures, the young and old, the unhoused to the wealthiest among us sitting on this bench. If you need a little lift, come and stop by and spend a few minutes watching our animals. I guarantee it’s better than any medicine!

I intend to use this section of the website as a flock journal of sorts. Of course, I mean it to be a source of guidance and information for all those “wanna-be” flockers out there, but also a written account of the flock’s lives that will help fans and followers of The Cook’s Garden come to know the flock on a deeper level. I hope you’ll check back often and that it will bring you joy and maybe some giggles too.

About the Eggs…

Our eggs are completely organic. Not only do our girls live out their full, happy lives with us (even after they stop laying after year 3-4), they are fed an organic, soy-free whole seed feed and receive fresh scraps from our garden as well as our surrounding restaurants. They get daily vitamins and supplements that increase the nutrient density of our eggs. And where else can you actually meet the flock that lays your eggs for you and your family. Support us. Support them. Buy your fresh eggs from us weekly. $12.50/doz. Eggs can now be pre-ordered during the spring and summer months.

Meet the Girls