A baker’s dozen of people interested in keeping backyard chickens came to my home this afternoon for the Chicken Keeping Workshop. You never know what the weather will throw at you this time of year in New England, and although it was cold, it didn’t rain and it didn’t snow. So, after listening to me talk about chicken breeds and the chicken life-cycle, behavior, housing and health, (and eating a bunch of cookies) we put on coats and boots and went out to get some real-life experience with the chickens. I promised that I’d show the class lice. After looking at several bottoms and not finding anything but healthy skin and feathers, I finally found a few crawlies on Tina. Next the class watched me muck manure and toured my compost piles. They got to see Buffy’s bloody head (healing nicely, by the way, and she’s quite happy in her private hen house – a spare rabbit hutch.) Then it was time to learn how to hold a chicken.
Just look at these smiling students! They’re ready for flocks of their own.
For those of you who couldn’t come to the workshop, but want to learn how to hold a hen, I’ve a YouTube video here.
The next workshop is April 14. It’s full, but email me and I’ll put your name on the waiting list. If there’s enough interest, I’ll schedule another workshop in early summer.
I enjoy your Hen cam and blog so much..I can relate to all of it. Love my girls… some are 6 years old. Sorry about little buffy..Brenda
Such a great workshop Terry! Thank you for sharing your home and your chickens!! Came away with some great ideas that I will try with my flock of five!!
The movie isn’t showing up….is it me, or a bad link?
I read about Buffy’s injured head a few days ago but didn’t know you had moved her away from the other old gals. Probably a good idea that you did, though. I watched the rest of the animals most all day. The goats disappeared for awhile and I thought you had taken them for a walk in the woods but I guess not since you had a class to teach.
Hiu Terry, what a GREAT workshop it was today!!! I’m thrilled you were able to fit me into the class today. My chickens arrive in exactly 30 days and your class reinforced that I was on track with my preparations for their arrival.
Thank you again,
Mike
Silkies are GREAT little banmats! One of our favorite for brooding everyone elses eggs and mothering everyone elses babies. )~ (no need to ever purchase an incubator) Very docile too Watch them for a while with your hens however. Some hens can get nasty mean to babies, especially so tiny as these banmats are. ) Great Video!!
Terry, Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge today. It was well worth the trip. I will check my chickens for lice tomorrow. I can hardly wait!!!
Glad to hear of Buffy’s improvment with her extra care. Saw all your boots in the Gem’s coop gathered around for the sieve-tool demo. Love the group hen-holding photo!
You’re like a chicken pusher! Did all your visitors go home and immediately order chicks? And did you teach them to check for ‘poo-foot’ before they picked them up? I’ve lost count of the times I’ve gone out somewhere wondering what the smell was before spotting a lovely smear of caecal poo down my side…
My lovely hens don’t get poo foot :)
I’m so very happy to hear that Buffy is alive and well, living in her very own condo. I had been looking for her and worried you might have lost her.
What a wonderful class! Thanks so much for the insight into life with chickens. We really enjoyed it and look forward to going there ourselves.
So jealous of the last person on the right in the photo. I would love to get a chance to snuggle a cochin!