Changes in our Chicken Flock

Chicken Transitions...

by Sharon Gaughan, PCLF Education Program Director

It’s a time of transition for chickens at the Learning Farm…

Last Saturday we held a chicken adoption day for our flock of 2-year-old Buff Orpingtons, Rhode Island Reds, Black Australorps, and Barred Plymouth Rocks.  Five adoptees (some individuals, some families) came during the first hour, each choosing 2-4 chickens to take home.  Then, to our surprise, a couple arrived from central Illinois saying that they were willing to take as many of our hens as they could. 

They explained that they are leaders of a community group that’s dedicated to promoting gardening, healthy eating, and backyard chickens. They have about fifty member families wanting to get started with backyard chickens, and their thought was that our 2-year-old hens would be a good way for these families to start out without being overwhelmed.  And so, the remaining chickens that we had available for adoption traveled south to central Illinois toward their new backyard homes! 

So that we can continue to provide eggs to our loyal customers through the winter, next week the Learning Farm will be purchasing 100 Bovans Brown layers from Sandhill Organics.  Bovans Brown hens look similar to Rhode Island Red hens – but they are a hybrid, not a true breed.  They are said to be docile and excellent brown egg layers.  The hens that we will be purchasing from Sandhill are less than a year old, so still in the prime of their egg-laying.

 

 

Fresh and clean winter chicken coop!

We’ve been working hard to clean up our winter chicken coop and adjoining fenced-in chicken yard in preparation for the new flock.  Yesterday I brought the Children’s Garden chickens, Rhubarb and Rutabaga, over to join me while I worked on some of the final coop and yard preparations.  They seemed to enjoy exploring the “new digs.”  I would like to think that they approved.

Next week, an update on the new flock!