Linda Falkenstein
Cluck is one of many attractions in the idyllic bicycle destination of Paoli.
Paoli, the hamlet just south of Verona on the Sugar River, has always been quaint, but the place just keeps getting more charming. On a recent Sunday afternoon, the grassy lawn adjacent to the river was filled with white chairs from a wedding; a steady stream of Lycra-bedecked bicyclists were stopping for libations. Visitors were even arriving by kayak — taking advantage of the cleaned-up river, thanks to the Falk Wells Sugar River Wildlife Area, which begins just upstream. The Paoli House Inn offers a spot to overnight; there are pubs and art galleries, cheese and brats, and, improbably, Cluck, a shop devoted to the backyard chicken-raiser.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking Cluck’s not for you if you don’t have a backyard brood. You could call the front of the store a hybrid chicken-themed gift shop and art gallery, though the offerings are more unexpected than you might, well, expect. Paintings by Marcia Sparks, Cynthia Quinn and Anne Stack Connor are currently featured, among poultry-themed aprons, mugs, cards, baby onesies and jewelry.
“We don’t have chickens, but we like to come in,” announces one Sunday visitor, to which clerk Howard Cosgrove replies: “Oh, everyone will have chickens eventually.”
Cosgrove is married to store owner Susan Troller, author of the book Cluck: From Jungle Fowl to City Chicks, essays on raising backyard chickens. And if you’re considering starting a backyard coop, more books and magazines on the topic are in stock.
Linda Falkenstein
The shop caters to the practical, with feed blends, as well as the whimsical. Chicken-centric art includes paintings by Marcia Sparks, and custom coop signs.
Order a beautiful hand-built custom coop; or, if you’ve already taken the plunge, pick up some small batch scratch feed (Cosgrove describes this as “more like pretzels and chips for chickens” than regular feed) — mixed from local grains, including a non-GMO blend. Or order a custom sign painted for your coop.
Equipment geared especially for the backyard chicken-keeper includes an automatic coop door opener (program the door to open in the morning and close at night even if you’re not there, or have it sense sunrise and sunset, via GPS). Twenty-first-century digital chickens, indeed.
Cluck
6904 Paoli Rd., Paoli, 608-848-1200, cluckthechickenstore.com
