Home to Roost will be taking a break May 7-12, 2015. As always, you can leave a message on the blog.
If you need vet care, please see the list of avian vets.
23 Apr
3 Hens Seeking Home
Contact Alan –grovesteen@gmail.com
I’m looking for a good home for three beautiful red-star (red sex-link) hens. They are three years old but in very good health and still laying enough eggs so that the 3 people in my family (who eat eggs) never need to buy any (about a dozen per week). They have been free ranged their entire lives in two adjacent Chicago back yards so they are very healthy and happy with no parasites, diseases or issues. Our kids have held them and played with them since they were baby chicks so they are very tame and allow you to pick them up without scratching or pecking. We are moving out of state and cannot take them with us. If I eat them, I will be the world’s worst father because our kids LOVE them so much. If you would be willing to give them a good home, please email me at grovesteen@gmail.com. I would be happy to include all of our remaining feed, hay, etc. as well.
NOTE: If you already have hens, see my post on inserting new birds into an existing flock.
21 Apr
This weekend: chicken health class!
A reminder to sign up for the chicken health class at the Chicago Botanic Garden!
Sat., April 25, 1 PM-4 PM, http://www.chicagobotanic.org/
8 Apr
UPDATES for Home to Roost Class Dates
Here is the list of classes so far for 2015. We have NEW classes in the works, including a bilingual (Eng/Span) class and a summer care class. Check out the complete list of offerings below or download the pdf: Home to Roost 2015 Class Offerings and Events
Appearance at Magic Tree Bookstore
Sun., April 12, 1 PM at the Magic Tree, Oak Park,for the launch of Sandy De Lisle’s new book, Hens for Friends! http://site.booksite.com/7326/events/?&list=EVC1&group=current&preview=1
**NOTE – DATE CHANGED TO JULY 11: Sat., July 11, 10 AM-1 PM with Angelic Organics Learning Center, Location TBD, http://www.learngrowconnect.org/event/basic-backyard-chicken-care-chicago
Sat., April 18, 10 AM-12 PM at Garfield Park Conservatory, http://www.garfieldconservatory.org
Sat., September 26, 10 AM-12 PM at Garfield Park Conservatory, http://www.garfieldconservatory.org
Coop Building
Sat., March 28, 1 PM-3 PM at Chicago Botanic Garden, http://www.chicagobotanic.org/
Sat., April 18, 1 PM-3 PM at Garfield Park Conservatory, http://www.garfieldconservatory.org
The Charm of Chickens: Reasons for Raising Backyard Hens
Thurs., April 23, 7 PM-8:30 PM at Grayslake Public Library, http://www.grayslake.info/
Chicken Health
Sat., April 25, 1 PM-4 PM at Chicago Botanic Garden, http://www.chicagobotanic.org/
**NOTE – DATE CHANGED TO MAY 2: Sat., May 2, 10 AM-12 PM at Garfield Park Conservatory, http://www.garfieldconservatory.org
NEW!! Summer Care for Chickens
Sat., June 20, 10 AM-12 PM at Garfield Park Conservatory, http://www.garfieldconservatory.org
Harvest Day Expo
Sun., September 20 at Garfield Park Conservatory, http://www.garfieldconservatory.org
NEW!! SPANISH -Basic Backyard Chicken Care
Sat., October 3 or 10, or November 7 with Angelic Organics Learning Center, Location TBD, http://www.learngrowconnect.org/event/basic-backyard-chicken-care-chicago
Snow Birds: Winter Care for Chickens
Sat., October 24, 10 AM-12 PM at Garfield Park Conservatory, http://www.garfieldconservatory.org
23 Mar
Marek’s Cases in Chicagoland Area
There have recently been a few cases (confirmed and suspected) of Marek’s disease. The infected chickens have came from WI, and were in McHenry County and Evanston. One flock was made up of Orloffs.
Marek’s is very contagious and will affect an entire flock. There are neurological, ocular, and visceral forms of Marek’s. Symptoms of the neurological form of Marek’s include split-leg posture (one back, one forward, twisted neck, wings drooping). For more info on Marek’s: http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/poultry/neoplasms/mareks_disease_in_poultry.html. Here, too, is a good post that includes lots of FAQs.
The virus is shed in feather dander and can be transmitted by humans from flock to flock. A blood test can be used to diagnose Marek’s, or an avian vet can diagnose on necropsy.
If you have a Marek’s bird, it’s best to destroy it, if not your whole flock. You should not get new birds until the old ones are gone, and the virus may remain in the environment. There is no cure for Marek’s.
Just a reminder:
— Always get birds from a reputable source.
— Buy only birds that look healthy.
— Quarantine the new birds for a few weeks to be sure they are healthy (however, they may be carriers of a disease without showing symptoms).
If you have a suspected Marek’s death, it would be good to get a necropsy and pathology report from a certified avian vet to protect your flock and others’ birds. Also, please let the chicken-keeping community know and notify the sources of your birds, as well as chicken owners who have visited your coop recently.
23 Mar
Events for Week of March 23, 2015
Remember to sign up for this week’s classes!
Basic Chicken Keeping
Weds., March 25, 5:30 PM at Fossil Ridge Public Library, http://fossilridge.org/event/home-to-roost/
Basic Chicken Keeping
Chicken Coop Building
Sat., March 28, 10 AM-3 PM at Chicago Botanic Garden, http://www.chicagobotanic.org/
23 Mar
Faroese Chickens Respond to the Eclipse
This clip is super cute!
Notice how one of the roosters shepherds everyone in, another is the last in, and a roo is the first one out.
18 Mar
11th Annual Good Food Festival and Conference! March 19 – 21, 2015
Join us for the 11th Annual Good Food Festival & Conference!
March 19 – 21, 2015 – UIC Forum – Chicago, IL
Buy Tickets for Good Food Festival & Conference Events Online – or You Can Also Pay At The Door!
Check out the Saturday programming for Raise Your Own minisessions on chickens, goats, bees, quail, and more!
Each segment of the Good Food Festival & Conference would make a superb stand-alone event. FamilyFarmed brings it all – financing… trade… producer issues… school food… food policy… an exhibit hall where you can meet more than 100 farm and food vendors… an awesome food and drink tasting event… and a Festival that is a great public celebration of the Good Food movement!
Please join us. You’ll be enlightened, inspired, and delighted! Visit the event website for more information and to buy tickets.
26 Feb
Home to Roost Classes
Here is the list of classes so far for 2015. We have NEW classes in the works, including a bilingual (Eng/Span) class and a summer care class. Check out the complete list of offerings below or download the pdf: Home to Roost Upcoming Class Offerings and Events.
Basic Chicken Keeping
Weds., March 25, 5:30 PM at Fossil Ridge Public Library, http://fossilridge.org/event/home-to-roost/
Sat., March 28, 10 AM-12 PM at Chicago Botanic Garden, http://www.chicagobotanic.org/
**NOTE – DATE CHANGED TO JULY 11: Sat., July 11, 10 AM-1 PM with Angelic Organics Learning Center, Location TBD, http://www.learngrowconnect.org/event/basic-backyard-chicken-care-chicago
Sat., April 18, 10 AM-12 PM at Garfield Park Conservatory, http://www.garfieldconservatory.or
Sat., September 26, 10 AM-12 PM at Garfield Park Conservatory, http://www.garfieldconservatory.org
Coop Building
Sat., March 28, 1 PM-3 PM at Chicago Botanic Garden, http://www.chicagobotanic.org/
Sat., April 18, 1 PM-3 PM at Garfield Park Conservatory, http://www.garfieldconservatory.or
The Charm of Chickens: Reasons for Raising Backyard Hens
Thurs., April 23, 7 PM-8:30 PM at Grayslake Public Library, http://www.grayslake.info/
Chicken Health
Sat., April 25, 1 PM-4 PM at Chicago Botanic Garden, http://www.chicagobotanic.org/
Sat., May 9, 10 AM-12 PM at Garfield Park Conservatory, http://www.garfieldconservatory.org
NEW!! Summer Care for Chickens
Sat., June 20, 10 AM-12 PM at Garfield Park Conservatory, http://www.garfieldconservatory.org
Harvest Day Expo
Sun., September 20 at Garfield Park Conservatory, http://www.garfieldconservatory.org
NEW!! SPANISH -Basic Backyard Chicken Care
Sat., October 3 or 10, or November 7 with Angelic Organics Learning Center, Location TBD, http://www.learngrowconnect.org/event/basic-backyard-chicken-care-chicago
Snow Birds: Winter Care for Chickens
Sat., October 24, 10 AM-12 PM at Garfield Park Conservatory, http://www.garfieldconservatory.org
Home to Roost 