Home to Roost Helping city folks raise chickens!

Check out the latest in chicken fashion accessories!  I call them my “Chick” Taylors! I was given a pair of these fun shoes for my birthday. They’re pretty comfortable and true to size. Also a great conversation piece. Enjoy!

Check out this nteresting video on chick development from egg to hatch date!

Join Home to Roost on May 6, 2017, for my chicken-keeping and coop-building classes at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Register for both classes and get a discount! Go to the Botanic Garden’s website and search on “chicken” or call (847) 835-5440.

Raising Backyard Chickens,  9 a.m.–noon
This class is designed for curious people who are considering raising backyard chickens, as well as for those who already have their own birds and who want to learn more. Come learn about local laws, how to raise chicks, care for adult birds, and keep your neighbors happy.
Chicken Coop Basics, 1–3 p.m.
If you’re getting chicks this spring, you will need to know how to build a safe and comfortable home for them. In this class, you’ll learn about the basic needs of backyard birds (they’re not fussy, really, but there are some things you need to know). Discover the essential components of a coop, learn what to avoid when choosing construction materials, get important construction tips, and see examples of different coop styles.

Hope to see you there!

Come out to the Good Food Festival at the UIC Forum this Saturday for a great time meeting folks who sell, grow, process, and raise good food and livestock.Register here.

Home to Roost will be participating in the Organic Valley Good Food Commons: Cultivate your curiosity and learn new skills at informal, 20-minute micro-workshops. Check out the full line-up of workshops, from vegan cheese making to urban beekeeping!

• Free Admission: Let’s start with the breaking news… for the first time, admission to the Good Food Festival is free! All you have to do is register. Donations will be welcome, of course, but in keeping with our motto of Good Food on Every Table, we want to make sure everyone with an interest in better eating can attend.
• Chef Demos: As always, our Chefs at Play stage will feature some of Chicago’s biggest culinary stars. Already lined up are Rick Bayless of the Frontera restaurant group, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year; Rob Levitt, the award-winning head butcher at The Butcher & Larder at Local Foods; and Paul Haney of Hoosier Mama Pie Company. Christine Cikowski and Josh Kulp of Chicago’s Honey Butter Fried Chicken are the co-recipients of FamilyFarmed’s 2017 Good Food Chef of the Year Award.
• Food and Health: With the medical community taking bigger steps to integrate food and nutrition into their thinking on health care, we will present great panels on Good Food is Good Medicine and Mood and Food including Nationally recognized Health and Fitness Expert and Creator of SHRED POP, Dr. Ian Smith.
• Urban Farm Bus Tour: For a ticket charge, you can go offsite and visit three new cutting-edge urban farms. This year’s tour will be led by Breanne Heath, certified organic farm owner, certified horticulturist, Edible Garden educator and garden manager.

Are you missing a chicken?

It seems with all that’s going on in Washington, folks are wanting some answers from their elected officials – who are rather “chicken.” See this story on how one Michigan community tried to get the attention of their representative.

Even chickens are feeling love of country these days. Jokgu the Brahma hen plays “America the Beautiful” on the piano – no, really!