Archive for April, 2022

29 Apr

Register Now for Chicken Coop Basics, May 4 at 7pm!

Posted by chickenwoman in classes, Coops. Tagged: , .


The next class in our Zoom series, Chicken Coop Basics, is coming right up! We need at least 5 participants for this class to run, so tell your friends!! Registration info is below.

102: Chicken Coop Basics

May 4, 2022, 7 pm (2 hrs) $23

Discover the essential components of a coop, important construction tips and materials, and see different coop styles.

How to Register

To register, email hometoroostllc@gmail.com.

  • In the subject line, write Zoom Classes April-May 2022.
  • Give your name.
  • Give your email address.
  • Specify the class name(s) and date(s).
  • Tell us if you need a certificate of participation (see below).
    • If yes, give your full name and street address.

How to Pay

Each class needs at least 5 participants to run (tell your friends!). We will email you a PayPal invoice. After you’ve paid through the link on the invoice, we’ll send you the link to the class. Only registered participants can use the link.

We need a minimum number of participants to run our classes. If you pay and decide not to attend your class, we will be unable to issue a refund. Thank you for your understanding. If we do not have enough participants to run the class, we’ll notify you 24 hours before the class starts and refund your money via PayPal.

Need a Certificate of Participation?

To get a certificate of participation for your village board, just notify us when you register. We will need your full name and street address. You must attend the class in person and have your camera on to receive the certificate. We’ll email you a PDF certificate when the class is over.

23 Apr

Register Now for Chicken Health Class Online, April 27 at 6pm!

Posted by chickenwoman in Chicken care, classes. Tagged: , , , , , .


The next class in our Zoom series, Chicken Health, is coming right up! For this class, I will include information on how to protect your backyard flock from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Cases of HPAI have been discovered in wild birds in Illinois and other Midwestern states. I will explain how to protect your flock from wild birds and symptoms of HPAI to watch for. 

Thanks to everyone who attended Basic Chicken Keeping last Wednesday. We need at least 5 participants for Chicken Health to run, so tell your friends!! Registration info is below.

201: Chicken Health Class     

Wed. April 27, 2022, 6 pm (2.5–3 hrs), $28

Learn about the common health issues of chickens and how to keep your flock healthy. Topics include basic chicken anatomy/physiology, disease prevention and transmission, and first aid.

How to Register

To register, email hometoroostllc@gmail.com.

  • In the subject line, write Zoom Classes April-May 2022.
  • Give your name.
  • Give your email address.
  • Specify the class name(s) and date(s).
  • Tell us if you need a certificate of participation (see below).
    • If yes, give your full name and street address.

How to Pay

Each class needs at least 5 participants to run (tell your friends!). We will email you a PayPal invoice. After you’ve paid through the link on the invoice, we’ll send you the link to the class. Only registered participants can use the link.

We need a minimum number of participants to run our classes. If you pay and decide not to attend your class, we will be unable to issue a refund. Thank you for your understanding. If we do not have enough participants to run the class, we’ll notify you 24 hours before the class starts and refund your money via PayPal.


Need a Certificate of Participation?

To get a certificate of participation for your village board, just notify us when you register. We will need your full name and street address. You must attend the class in person and have your camera on to receive the certificate. We’ll email you a PDF certificate when the class is over.

Photo by Liz McCrory, kosmicstudio.org

22 Apr

Avian Flu Update from Illinois Dept of Natural Resources

Posted by chickenwoman in Uncategorized.


IMPORTANT AVIAN FLU UPDATE

Effective today, IDNR is recommending a halt to the use of bird feeders and bird baths through May 31, or until avian flu infections in the Midwest subside, especially those that waterfowl may visit. During spring, wild birds will have ample food sources while bird feeders are removed.

HPAI has not been detected in songbird species (passerines) at this time.

Further recommendations from the agency:

👉🏼 Clean and rinse bird feeders and baths with a diluted bleach solution (nine parts water to one part bleach) and put away or clean weekly if they can’t be moved away from birds.

👉🏼 Remove any bird seed at the base of bird feeders to discourage large gatherings of birds or other wildlife.

👉🏼 Avoid feeding wild birds in close proximity to domestic flocks.

If five or more deceased wild birds are observed in one location, an IDNR district wildlife biologist should be contacted. Contact information for district wildlife biologists can be found at https://www.wildlifeillinois.org/…/contact-an-idnr…/. USDA Wildlife Services also may be contacted at 1-866-487-3297.

In addition, IDNR requests all occurrences of deceased or sick bald eagles be reported to the agency.

6 Apr

Ald. Lopez, no friend of fowl, running for Chicago mayor

Posted by chickenwoman in Uncategorized.


In 2019, Alderman Raymond Lopez proposed an ordinance severely limiting backyard chickens and livestock in the city. He is now running for mayor. Consider this as you go to the polls in 2023. (https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/ald-raymond-lopez-running-for-mayor-of-chicago/)

Although groups with interests in chickens and urban ag reached out to Ald. Lopez in 2019, he and Ald. Napolitano crafted a proposed ordinance without input from the large number of people in the city who own chickens and other animals traditionally classified as livestock. 

The 2019 ordinance proposed limiting chickens, goats, and other traditional farm animals in the city and charged licensing fees per animal. Martha Boyd from Angelic Organics Learning Center and I, along with others from the urban ag community successfully pushed back, and the ordinance did not pass. Currently there are no regulations in place. 

Here is coverage on the 2019 ordinance: https://news.wttw.com/2019/09/24/aldermen-propose-limits-backyard-livestock-chicago

4 Apr

First-hand account of HPAI outbreak

Posted by chickenwoman in Uncategorized.


This small farm in New York lost a large number of birds to HPAI. The birds were likely infected by migratory birds flying overhead. Birds under cover were unaffected.

If you have sudden deaths in your flock, report it immediately to the USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) and state veterinarian.

1 Apr

Home to Roost offers first series of chicken classes online via Zoom!

Posted by chickenwoman in Chicken care, classes, Coops. Tagged: , , .


Home to Roost will be teaching the following Zoom classes, based on responses to our survey. We hope you’ll join us.

101: Basic Backyard Chicken Keeping     

April 20, 2022, 7 pm (2 hrs) $23

Learn the basics of raising healthy, happy chickens in your backyard, including the care and feeding of chicks and adult birds.

201: Chicken Health

April 27, 2022, 6 pm (2.5–3 hrs)  $28

Learn about the common health issues of chickens and how to keep your flock healthy. Topics include basic chicken anatomy/physiology, disease prevention and transmission, and first aid.

102: Chicken Coop Basics

May 4, 2022, 7 pm (2 hrs) $23

Discover the essential components of a coop, important construction tips and materials, and see different coop styles.

How to Register

To register, email hometoroostllc@gmail.com.

  • In the subject line, write Zoom Classes April-May 2022.
  • Give your name.
  • Give your email address.
  • Specify the class name(s) and date(s).
  • Tell us if you need a certificate of participation (see below).
    • If yes, give your full name and street address.


How to Pay

Each class needs at least 5 participants to run (tell your friends!). We will email you a PayPal invoice. After you’ve paid through the link on the invoice, we’ll send you the link to the class. Only registered participants can use the link.


Need a Certificate of Participation?

To get a certificate of participation for your village board, just notify us when you register. We will need your full name and street address. You must attend the class in person and have your camera on to receive the certificate. We’ll email you a PDF certificate when the class is over.

Cancellations

We need a minimum number of participants to run our classes. If you pay and decide not to attend your class, we will be unable to issue a refund. Thank you for your understanding.

If we do not have enough participants to run the class, we’ll notify you 24 hours before the class starts and refund your money via PayPal.

Classes are not recorded.

More classes will be added in the near future! Stay tuned!

Jennifer Murtoff
Photo by Liz McCrory, kosmicstudio.org