Larku

21/02/2026

Just trying a few things here. I've kept chickens for years and picked up bits of knowledge along the way, so I'm hoping to share what I can. I'm also learning from lots of inspiring pages and seeing what ideas might grow. Thanks for being here while I figure it out. That text on the image I just generated for this post is almost unreadable, lol. Now I know: don't use Facebook's image generator. I think I'm better off doing it the old-fashioned way.

18/02/2026

Important with priorities. This got me thinking ; I’m testing things out and sometimes it feels like other things comes in the way of your priorities.

Balancing a side hustle with real life isn’t easy. I'm in a busy wave at my full-time job so here’s how I'm prioritizing👇

1. My kids come first.
No question. If they need me, everything else gets pushed aside.

2. My health matters.
Sleep, decent meals, and staying consistent with workouts keep me functioning. If I don’t take care of myself, nothing else gets done well.

3. My full-time job.
It pays the bills and provides health insurance, that stability comes before anything extra.

4. My side hustle.
Right now, it’s still just a side hustle. I’m growing it, but I’m not at the point where it replaces my main income yet.

What this currently looks like in reality:

I don't get to photograph new items or list new items on ebay as often as I’d like. But I also never let it stop completely. That means early mornings to package orders, 20 minutes to delist and relist old items, and finding another 20 minutes (somehow?) to write this post!

Also my laundry has a tendency to pile up😅

How do you prioritize your time when life gets busy?

15/02/2026

Trying things out.
Redbubble, TeePublic, Facebook… not sure what I’m doing, but I’m doing it anyway.
I love chickens. I love tech. I love drawing.
So I’m mixing them — and seeing what happens.
This design came from a day I didn’t feel brave.
So I drew a hen who is.
Then I turned it into a print.
And now… a reel.
Just learning as I go.

13/02/2026

I just published a guide for backyard keepers who want to use tools like Copilot, ChatGPT, Perplexity or Lindy to ask better questions, notice changes earlier, and avoid paying for answers they can genuinely find themselves.

It’s not about replacing real care — it’s about supporting your instincts with smart, thoughtful prompts.

🪶 From “Is this a rooster?” to “Does my coop setup look okay?” — this guide walks through how AI can help, and which tools are best for general info vs personalised tracking.



📖 Read it here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/avalarko/p/using-ai-to-understand-your-chickens

13/02/2026

I’ve been working on a couple of new chicken designs lately, mostly as a quiet little project to keep my hands busy and my mind settled.
One of them is especially close to me:

🐔 Backyard Chicken Therapy
It’s styled like a little pharmacy label, because honestly… watching my chickens potter around or getting a cuddle from them has helped me more than I can explain. They’re silly and grounding and strangely wise, and sometimes that’s exactly the kind of “medicine” I need.

And then there’s the new Valentine one:

💘 You Make My Heart Go Cluck

Three slightly awkward, very expressive chickens doing their best to look romantic. It made me laugh while I was making it, which felt like a good sign.
I’m still figuring out this whole creative journey, but sharing these small things — especially the ones that genuinely help me feel calmer — feels a bit like opening the door to my little chicken‑shaped world.

If any of it brings you a smile or a bit of comfort too, that means a lot.

They’re up on shirts and stickers now if you want to peek (will add the shop links in the comments), but mostly I just wanted to share what I’ve been making lately.

12/02/2026

✨ I’d love your help — I’m taking my first small steps into making merch, and honestly… it feels a bit scary to put things out there.

This design comes from a very personal place.

I used to have a rooster named Billy, and he was one of the most sensitive, gentle little souls I’ve known. He’d call the hens over when he found food, keep watch while they dust‑bathed, and always made sure everyone was safe.

A while ago I saw a video of a rooster lifting his wing to shield a hen from the rain — and it instantly reminded me of Billy. That quiet, protective tenderness. That “perfect gentleman” energy.

So I tried to capture that feeling in an illustration… and I ended up with two very different styles:

A — a softer, pencil‑sketch look
B — a simplified, clean illustration

Since I’m still finding my footing with all of this, I’d really love your thoughts.

Which version feels more like “The Perfect Gentleman” to you?
Just comment A or B — your vote genuinely helps me understand what direction to explore next.

Attaching a photo of Billy too, so you can see the little gentleman who inspired it all :-)

Thank you for being here while I figure this out, one gentle step at a time 🐦✨

12/02/2026

✨ Hello, I’m Larku — a gentle, curious guide to creativity, chickens, and beginner‑friendly AI.

If you’re new here, welcome!

I’m building a little corner of the internet about creativity, design, tech and chickens.

Here’s what you’ll find on this page:

🐦 Playful illustrations
Birds, chickens, tiny characters, and gentle humour — all drawn with love.

💡 Simple, friendly AI tips

Just small, helpful explanations for people who want to explore AI, and perhaps how it can help you care for your lovely birds.

🎨 Behind‑the‑scenes of my creative process
Sketches, experiments, mistakes, and the messy middle of making things.

🛍 Merch experiments & community input
I’m designing small collections inspired by birds, nature, and soft humour — and I’d love your help choosing what to create next. I have attached 3 designs below so you can get a feel for the style I am exploring - Love your feedback :)

🌱 A slow, kind approach to building something new
I’m growing this project in public, learning as I go, and sharing the journey with you.

If any of that feels like your vibe, I’d love to have you here.
Pull up a perch and stay awhile.

✨ Welcome to Larku.

Let’s make something gentle, helpful and joyful together.

11/02/2026

Curious about AI tools for your flock? I pulled together a few you can check out.

Want to explore some AI tools for your flock? I pulled together a few you can check out

09/02/2026

🐓✨ My First Larku Letter Is Live

I’ve just published the very first post on Larku Letters, my new Substack space — a nice corner where I’ll be writing about creativity, chickens, design, tech, and the small moments that spark ideas.

Larku has always been about more than designs. It’s about supporting the bird‑loving community, using my skills in design and tech to make things clearer and kinder, and giving chickens the attention they deserve. They’re often treated as commodities, but anyone who’s spent time with them knows they’re full of personality, humour, and quiet wisdom.

This first letter is a gentle introduction to what Larku is becoming — a mix of stories, reflections, and resources for people who care about creativity, community, and the wonderful world of birds.

You can read it here:
👉 https://avalarko.substack.com/p/welcome-to-larku-letters
More letters, more stories, and more chickens to come.

— Ava / Larku 🐓🌙

Hello and welcome to Larku Letters.

09/02/2026

🐓✨ Larku Is Now on TeePublic!

Big news from the Larku nest — I’ve officially opened a store on TeePublic!

I’m slowly growing my little flock of designs across different platforms, and TeePublic felt like the perfect next home. You’ll find the same mix of chickens, humour, and AI mischief… just with more product options, more colours, and more ways to wear the chaos.
Right now the shop is small (every project starts somewhere), but I’m adding designs as I go — learning, experimenting, and having a lot of fun along the way.

If you want to take a peek, here’s the link:
https://tee.pub/lic/prLNKsmqYI8

Thanks for cheering on this creative adventure. More chickens, more stories, and more designs coming soon.

— Larku 🐓🌙

Shop t-shirts, phone cases, hoodies, art prints and mugs created by independent artists from around the globe.