31 May

New Chicks are at Belmont Feed and Seed!

Posted by chickenwoman in Chicken stuff to buy. Tagged: , , , .


May 22, Chicks @ Belmont Feed & Seed
We have all these breeds on our order:
-Rhode Island Reds
-Black Astralorps
-Buff Orpingtons
-Araucanas / Americanas
-Barred Rocks
-Silver Laced Wyandottes
-Golden Laced Wyandottes.

Special Breeds & Bantam Chicks have been ordered.
First delivery, June 17-19:
-Buff & Black Silkies
-Araucana Bantams
-Partrige Rock Bantams.
Second Delivery, July 8-10:
-Buff Rocks
-Blue Silkies
-White Polish
-Araucana Bantams
We also still have 3 week old chicks: Rhode Island Reds, Red & Black Stars, New Hampshire Reds, Buff Orpingtons, Black Austrolorps & Barred Rocks. If you want it easy, take the 3 week old and skip use of the light with them.

Contact:

(773) 588-1144

3036 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

31 May

The Ubiquitous Chicken: A Quick History Lesson

Posted by chickenwoman in Bird miscellany. Tagged: , .


You want chicken? You got it – 10,000 years of chicken history, that is! An entertaining read about the ubiquitous chicken: from red jungle fowl in southeast Asia to KFC in China, and everywhere in between.

7 May

Chickens Proposed as Part of Compensation for Employment

Posted by chickenwoman in Weird chicken stuff. Tagged: , , , , .


Reporter Joshua Foust provided the Atlantic with a story on hens in lieu of monetary compensation in Uzbekistan. Apparently the chickens are to be imported from Serbia.

This is similar to my blog post on raising chickens in exchange for healthcare.

A French village recently proposed giving chickens to citizens in order to eliminate waste.

6 May

22 May, 2012: Chicken Planning Meeting for Arlington Heights, IL

Posted by chickenwoman in Laws. Tagged: , , , .


If you live in Arlington Heights, join the backyard chicken supporters for a planning meeting on 22 May, 2012, from 7-8 PM.

Contact Mary Green (marysgreen@hotmail.com) for more information.

Home to Roost will attend, as well.

1 May

Chicken Retirement

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


I got a call yesterday from a reporter who wanted my opinion on “chicken retirement” – sending older hens who’ve stopped being productive to a local farm. Apparently there are farms in Portland that take in aged birds, allowing owners to get new egg producers without killing the nonproductive ones. (See this blog post for a first-hand account.)

How sustainable is this model of “chicken rescue?” What are the costs to the farmer who puts time and resources in keeping a flock of nonproductive hens? Does the fertilizer gained offset the feed consumed and lack of eggs?

Before you get chickens, consider the lifespan of the bird (6-8 years). Then consider that the most productive years are the first 2-3 years of life. Are the birds pets? Are they stew birds?

We are promoting urban agricultural practices in keeping backyard birds, but are we sidestepping the reality that animals are domesticated and brought to live with humans because they are a food source? In short, are we exchanging one unsustainable practice (large-scale egg farming) for another (the potential of filling rural farms with former urban pets)?

Have comments? I’d love to hear them.

 

21 Apr

The Ubiquitous Chicken: In Archaeological Sites in the Middle East

Posted by chickenwoman in Weird chicken stuff. Tagged: , , , .


Ah, the ubiquitous chicken. Found on nearly every continent, except for the largely inhospitable landmasses, which are more prone to housing penguins.

In addition to being a big fan of chickens, I’m also an avid traveler. I love the art and culture of other countries. So when I or my friends travel, one of the missions is to locate a chicken, shadowbox size, done by a local artisan, in a style that is particular to that region.

Here is an unusual find of that nature that combines three of my interests: chickens, local artisans, and archaeology. It’s a chicken pull-toy from an archaeological site in Israel.

18 Apr

Incubation: A Word from Martha Boyd (Angelic Organics Learning Center)

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


For those teachers out there who are weighing the pros and cons of an embryology unit, here is a thoughtful post on incubation.

Also check out my post about how I got started with chickens. An embryology project kicked off my love of chickens, and we did the “window on a chick” thing – cutting an opening in the eggshell to see it develop. This chick died, which made me very sad. If you choose to go the hatching route, you can see the blood vessel networking forming, the heart beating, and the chick developing with effective candling! No need for egg windows!

17 Apr

Automated Coop Door Design

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


Here is an automated coop door design from a family in the UK that rescue battery-cage hens.

Enjoy!

17 Apr

Chicken Ordinance Report

Posted by chickenwoman in Laws, Urban agriculture. Tagged: , , , , , , .


In February of 2010, students of Dr. Hugh Bartling at DePaul University conducted a survey of more than 20 U.S. municipalities that allow chickens. The survey focused on how the laws were implemented and the issues that arose. Read the original report here. 

17 Apr

Iowa City Joins the Backyard Chicken Movement

Posted by chickenwoman in Laws, Urban agriculture. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .


I got a call yesterday from the University of Iowa and spoke to a reporter who documented the Iowa City chicken-keeping efforts in this article, published online today (4/17/2012).

This movement was seeded by a former chicken keeper from Albuquerque who wanted backyard hens at her new home.

“Everyone comes to the table with different reasons [for urban chicken keeping],” said LaBadie, who organized several chicken-keeping groups in Albuquerque. “… But it’s not like it’s a brand-new thing. They’re allowed in New York City, Los Angeles, Albuquerque, and larger urban areas. I feel like they could work in Iowa City.”

Go, Iowa!

 

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