Archive for the ‘classes’ Category

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

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

14 Mar

Home to Roost to offer complete range of Chicken Classes online!

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


We are now offering chicken classes online via Zoom! It is an exciting new step for us. (We’ll continue teaching classes through partnerships with other organizations, however!)

We have 7 different chicken and poultry-related classes. Which classes would you be interested in? Let us know through this short survey. 

If you would like to fill out this survey on Google Forms, please click HERE.

Thank you for your response!

5 Feb

Register Now for Chicken Coop Basics – Online on February 16!

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


I will present Chicken Coop Basics, the next class in my series for Villa Park Public Library, on February 16, 6:30pm – 8:30pm. I hope you can join me for this free online class!

Register now at this link: Chicken Coop Basics – Online

This class addresses what you need to know about building a safe and comfortable home for your hens. You’ll learn the basic housing needs of backyard birds. Find out the essential components of a coop, construction materials to choose and avoid, important construction tips, and see different coop styles.

29 Jun

Chicken keeping, up close and personal with Cluck Nut the chicken

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


  • My special guest, Cluck Nut the chicken!
  • I write about chicken care for Backyard Chickens magazine.
  • A participant asked me to sign a copy of Backyard Chickens magazine for her!

A lot of people turned out at the Lemont Public Library last night to hear me talk about chicken keeping. I was ably assisted by Cluck Nut the chicken, who was a very good sport! She is a client’s chicken I borrowed for the occasion.

It was great to present a live chicken-keeping class for the first time in over a year. Among other topics, I talked about chicken breeds, chicken coops, chicken feed, and how a chicken purse led me to my improbable career as an urban chicken consultant.

A great time was had by all — even the chicken. I invited participants to feel her crop, where all the food goes when she swallows. Filled with grain, It feels a lot like a hackysack! Have you ever seen a chicken’s ears? On Cluck Nut, they are small but unmistakable. While I talked, Cluck Nut roamed the table next to me, getting to know the people lucky enough to sit up front. In-person classes are so much fun!

18 Jun

Creative Recycled Chicken Coops

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


We have culled the Web to find the most creative chicken coops made from repurposed objects. Beat the high price of lumber and materials by re-using some of these common items to make a home for your hens! We especially love the idea of repurposing old wardrobes, cabinets, and other large pieces of furniture to make chicken coops. If you don’t own any of these items, they can readily be found at thrift stores or resale shops for a low price.

  • This one gets points for vintage style.
  • Turn that old swing set into a chicken coop. Points if you keep the swings for the chickens to perch on!
  • thehomesteadsurvival.com has instructions for making a chicken coop from a trampoline!
  • House your hens in elegance with a repurposed antique armoire or wardrobe! discover.hubpages.com
  • A place for everything! Ton Matton’s chicken cabinet uses drawers as egg boxes. inhabitat.com
  • When the kids outgrow the playhouse, turn it into a chicken coop! backyardchickens.com
  • Rock-a-bye, birdies, in the tree top… this baby crib makes a great coop!

Build Your Own Recycled Coop!

To make a functional coop from recycled materials, it is important to know the essential components that all chicken coops should have. I am teaching an online class called Chicken Coop Basics on July 7, 6:30-8:30pm, that will help you give your chicken coop design a firm foundation. This class addresses minimal requirements for building a safe and comfortable home for your hens. You’ll learn the basic housing needs of backyard birds, construction materials to choose and avoid, important construction tips, and see different coop styles. More information about this online class is available at the link below.

Chicken Coop Basics, July 7, 6:30-8:30pm

Tip: A great place to find used building materials is at your local re-building warehouse. These are popping up all over the country to salvage unused building materials from construction projects, home remodeling, etc. and make them available to the consumer. Here are links to a few in the Chicago area:

Chicago Rebuilding Exchange

Maywood Reuse Depot

Habitat ReStore – many Chicago-area locations

Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse

16 Jun

Learn the Basics of Chicken Keeping: Outdoor Event, June 28!

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


UPDATE 6/24/21: This event will most likely be held indoors.

We are pleased to announce the first live, in-person event presented by Home to Roost in more than a year! Basic Backyard Chicken Keeping, June 28, 6:00 – 8:00pm at Lemont Public Library in Lemont, IL. Jennifer Murtoff will teach you the basics of raising chickens, from chick to adult bird. Bring your questions about chicken keeping to this live event!

This class is free and open to the public, regardless of where in IL you live. Register now at the link below:

Basic Backyard Chicken Keeping, June 28, 6:00 – 8:00pm

Lemont Public Library
50 E. Wend St.
Lemont, IL 60439

We hope to see you there, up close and in person!

Photo by Liz McCrory, kosmicstudio.org

10 Jun

Basic Chicken Keeping, Coop Classes at Fremont Public Library

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


I will be teaching Basic Chicken Keeping and Chicken Coop Basics for the Fremont Public Library (located in Mundelein, IL) in June and July. These online classes are open to all, regardless of where in the U.S. you live. Please note that all class information on predators and climate will be geared to the Chicago area. Register now at the links below!

Basic Backyard Chicken Keeping, Online — Fremont Public Library, June 23, 6:30 – 8:30pm

Learn the basics of raising backyard chickens, from chick to adult.

Chicken Coop Basics, Online — Fremont Public Library, July 7, 6:30 – 8:30pm

Learn the essential components of a chicken coop, important construction tips, and different coop styles. Do you have your own creative ideas for a coop? This class will teach you the basic elements that all coops need to have.

25 May

Help Your Hens Survive the Heat and Humidity!

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


Heat and humidity can be challenging for cold-hardy chicken breeds. Find out how to care for your hens during the hot weather in my online class, “Summer Chicken Care,” on June 2 at 6:00 pm. Learn how chickens cool themselves naturally and tips for helping them stay cool. I will also describe the signs of heat stroke and what to do to help an overheated bird.

This online class is hosted by the Chicago Rebuilding Exchange on Wed. June 2, 6:00 – 6:45 pm. More info is available Here.

Photo by Liz McCrory, kosmicstudio.org
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