7 Aug

UIC Study on Household Provisioning

Posted by chickenwoman in Local food, Urban agriculture.


The University of Illinois at Chicago is conducting a research study to understand how different households are provisioning (e.g. making a living, providing for families and households) in the current economy. The researchers are trying to understand not only the specific strategies of households, but also the surrounding social, economic, and policy environment.

They are looking for households that provision a substantial portion of their family food and basic needs through gardening, canning, do-it-yourself projects, recycling/repurposing and/or informal bartering. While one person in the household may be working in a paid job, they expect that one or more household members devote considerable time and energy to sustaining the household through these activities. This is sometimes called ‘urban homesteading.’

If you are interested in participating, download the Homesteader Provisioning Information Sheet for more information.

 

4 Aug

Vent Gleet Article

Posted by chickenwoman in Uncategorized.


If your hens have poopy butts, keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t turn into vent gleet, a yeast infection that messes up the rear end and causes thrush in the mouth. Check out this article on vent gleet. Thus far I’ve not seen any instances of this kind of yeast infection in the Chicagoland area (yet), but I have seen a few cases of poopy butts.

2 Aug

Home to Roost in the Oak Leaves

Posted by chickenwoman in Media coverage.


Reporter Meredith Morris wrote this story in the local paper about my chicken biz.

2 Aug

Jail Birds at Cook County Courtesy of Home to Roost

Posted by chickenwoman in Local food, Media coverage.


Here is news coverage on the chicken project at the Cook County jail! It’s up and running. Watch for Cook County Sheriff’s Office eggs at your local farmers market. Look for the cartons in the pix above!

 

23 Jul

Home to Roost Consults to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office

Posted by chickenwoman in Events.


Today Home to Roost, LLC, assisted the Cook County Sheriff’s Office with moving 30 hens into the Cook County Jail. Home to Roost consulted with the Sheriff’s Office to assist in selecting birds, designing a coop, and creating a chicken-keeping program for Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart. The lovely chickens and supplies were supplied by Belmont Feed and Seed. 

The goals of the program are

  • Create marketable products (eggs, coops) for CCSO;
  • Provide inmates with marketable skills/experience (animal husbandry, carpentry, management);
  • Provide inmates with discipline, respect for nature;
  • Implement a “green,” ecofriendly program at CCSO; and
  • Integrate with existing gardening program.

Home to Roost is very happy to participate in this project!

16 Jul

Chickens and Hot, Humid Weather

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


As the temperatures and humidity soar, you’ll want to help your hens keep cool. A few tips for helping your hens beat the heat!

As the temperatures hit the mid-80s, your birds will probably start panting. If temperatures hit above 100, your birds may suffer heatstroke. Here are some tips, excerpted from my class on chickens and heat, to prevent that.

1) Provide fresh, clean water – and lots of it.

2) Freeze 2-liter bottles and put them in the coop to cool it down.

3) Remove excess bedding, which traps heat.

4) Feed a crumble feed, rather than a whole-grain food. Grains generate heat as they are metabolized.

5) Provide shade.

6) Mist their favorite dustbath areas so that the soil is damp (but not muddy).

7) Provide shallow pans of cool water that they can stand in.

8) Create air movement.

If you notice that the birds are listless and lethargic (signs of heat stress), consider bringing them into a cool basement or to an airconditioned mudroom (in a dog crate or portable cage). Make the transition gradually (don’t bring them directly in to a room that is 20 degrees cooler). Help cool birds down by applying cool (not cold) compresses to comb, wattles, and feet.

As always, keep an eye on your birds and know what’s normal for them. This will help you catch problems before they become life threatening.

9 Jul

SAVE THE DATE: Windy City Coop Tour

Posted by chickenwoman in Events.


SAVE THE DATE for the 2013 Windy City Coop Tour on September 21-22, from 10AM to 2PM both days.

This is a great way to see what other chicken keepers are doing in Chicago.

Planning for the Tour starts SOON: If you want to Host, Plan, or Help, contact Martha Boyd: Martha@learngrowconnect.org

 

 

9 Jul

Nov. 9, 2013: Chicken-Keeping Workshop in Chicago

Posted by chickenwoman in Chicken care, Events.


The next Basic Backyard Chicken Care workshop will take place on Saturday, November 9, from 10AM to 1PM.

Now in its 11th offering, this workshop for prospective and new chicken keepers offers 3 packed hours of comprehensive info about raising city chickens.

 

 

9 Jul

July 18, 2013: Chicken Health Workshop

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


REGISTER NOW for the first Urban Chicken Health Care workshop on Thursday July 18 from 6:30-8:30 PM at Wellington Ave United Church of Christ, 615 W Wellington Ave in Chicago.

Developed and taught by Home to Roost Urban Chicken Consultant Jen Murtoff, the workshop will cover prevention, basic troubleshooting, and care for common chicken health issues and injuries.

This workshop is for backyard chicken keepers who are already experienced in basic care, and who want to advance their knowledge and skills.

– See more at: http://www.learngrowconnect.org/node/4994#sthash.mCCLwjeI.dpuf

This is an *advanced workshop* for chicken keepers who are already experienced in basic care, and who want to advance their knowledge and skills.

 

1 Jul

http://tv.naturalnews.com/v.asp?v=EADC17C55558EC771C29B1DCA1C1EC92

Posted by chickenwoman in Uncategorized.


http://tv.naturalnews.com/v.asp?v=EADC17C55558EC771C29B1DCA1C1EC92

Video about the inherent dangers of raising backyard chickens

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