Home to Roost Helping city folks raise chickens!

Facebook introduced me to the photography of Beth Moon. I love her poetic comments on her pieces. Of “Augurs and Soothsayers,” her chicken collection, she says,

[English writer John Berger] suggests that the loss of everyday contact between man and animal have left us confused about our relationship, specifically, he writes about looking an animal in the eyes. Michael Pollen writes … “but this is what can happen to you when you look. And what you see when you look is the cruelty – and the blindness to cruelty – required to produce eggs that can be sold for 79 cents a dozen.”

These portraits were inspired by those words. I invite you to look into their eyes.

I hope you enjoy her work as much as I did!

Michael Toscano, a researcher at the University of Bern in Switzerland is checking out the habits of chickens – by outfitting them with chicken fitbits! A tracking device records the birds’ daily routines to determine the “best practices” of healthy layers.

Initially an experiment to study high incidence of broken keel bones, Toscano and his team have also used the device to track which birds go outside, determining that those who spend time out of the barn are healthier, a finding that comes as no surprise to backyard chicken keepers! The team has also found that each chicken has its own daily routine. They hope to use the results of the study to raise happier, healthier chickens.

To read more about the study, check out this article in Popular Science.

Green Bay Animal Hospital is holding a chicken that was found on Rt. 22 in Lincolnshire. It appears to be a Plymouth rock cockerel. chicken at Green Bay AH. Needs medication for an eye issue. Vet has started treatment.

Call 847-251-5900 before 3 PM or 847-613-0630. Ask for Gina.

Oswego chicken ordinance vote is coming up tonight, Tuesday, May 2, at 6pm in Village Hall. If you would like to have backyard chickens in the Oswego area, show your support at the Village Hall on Tuesday.