[Community_garden] Chickens in the Garden

[Owen Taylor]

*Hello All,* *Thank you, Lenny, for forwarding this thread regarding keeping
chickens in public spaces. Just Food's City Chicken
Project<http://www.justfood.org/cityfarms/chickens/>currently works
with chicken keepers throughout NYC who keep chickens in
community gardens and city farms.  As Lenny mentioned, with help from Heifer
International and Assemblyman Jose Rivera (Bronx), we offer technical
support, trainings, chickens and coop materials to groups who are interested
in providing healthy food (eggs, vegetables, fruit) for their communities.
* *In order for the projects to be truly community-run, we choose to work
with community groups of 8 or more people who have spoken to their immediate
neighbors about keeping chickens.  We work with groups that have at least
two primary caretakers and one alternative caretaker for the chickens.
Chickens need fresh food and water everyday, especially in this climate
where water freezes in the winter, but also because chickens will soil their
food and water, posing health risks for the flock. Therefore, it is
important to have a group that can send at least one person to care for the
chickens everyday.  * *This year, we worked with two community gardens in
the Bronx to design and build new model coops for their chickens.  It was a
community design process, with the gardeners sharing ideas about their dream
coop and their needs for the space/chickens/community etc.  An upstate
chicken farmer (who is also a veterinarian), a carpenter and the Chicken
Committee (the advisory group for the City Chicken Project) gave input as
well.  The gardeners built the coop with the carpenter.* *In terms of
working as a group to care for the chickens in a public space, we will be
using a "Daily Chicken Maintenance Log" borrowed from Gericke Farm in Staten
Island.  This stays attached to the coop, with instructions for feeding and
watering, and a blank spreadsheet including: Date, Time, Initials, Feed (#
of scoops), Water (volume), Vegetables, and Eggs (how many collected).  * *I
hope this is helpful!  Feel free to see our website and our City Chicken
Guide, or call  me for other questions. * *How great that city chicken
projects have been taking flight in so many urban places!* *Farmly,
Owen*

Owen Taylor

Training and Livestock Coordinator

*Just Food*

208 E.51st Street, 4th Floor

New York, NY 10022

tel (212) 645-9880 x229

fax (212)645-9881

owen at justfood.org
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