ENVIROMENT | Caring for chickens

Backyard chicken coops have steadily been gaining popularity in the U.S. during the past several years. Backyard chickens make innovative pets and function as an extremely local food source, offering the most fresh and delicious eggs direct from your own backyard. Learn everything you need to know about raising backyard chickens during an information session on home-scale poultry production led by Deborah Cavanaugh- Grant, local foods systems and small farms educator with University of Illinois Extension. The two-hour seminar will cover topics such as initial set up of the chicks, things you’ll need to consider before building a coop and chicken run, how to protect your birds against winter, other inclement weather and outdoor predators and how to legally handle and sell chicken eggs in Illinois. This is a great opportunity for those already raising backyard chickens to meet other like-minded enthusiasts. Space is limited, so preregistration is encouraged by calling 782-4617.