Keeping Chickens

Keeping ChickensKirsten Serrano

Small Wonder Farm

Small Wonder Farm

www.smallwonderfarm.wordpress.comwww.lascalaitalianrestaurant.com

Farm Stats•5 .2 acres•25 chickens•2 goats•2 dogs•2 cats•20’ x 36’ high tunnel•¼ acre garden•Small orchard•Meadow•Woods

Why oh Why??? Pasture Raised

Protein Circle of Life Enjoyment Family Easy

Pasture Raised Protein Eggs or Meat,

pasture is better Know what the

inputs are Quality over

quantity/price

eggs from hens raised on pasture may contain up to:

1/3 less cholesterol 1/4 less saturated fat 2/3 more vitamin A 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids 4 to 6 times as much Vitamin D 3 times more vitamin E

7 times more beta carotene

A Born Again Omnivore

Circle of Life Life lived

authentically Farmer

harvests the eggs, meat, fertilizer

Skipping the middlemen, the chemicals, and the unsafe and immoral factory

Pasture,

produce

Chicken

Soil

Enjoyment and Wonder

Respect your food

Family

Getting started

Sourcing chicks Mail order Buying Locally Hatching your own

Straight-run v. Pullets

Meat and/or Eggs and/or Beauty

Diversity

Hundreds of breeds Murray McMurray

chicken selector iPhone app

Many, many books and websites

Importance of Heirloom Breeds

Commercial chicken farming relies primarily on just three breeds — the White Leghorn, Rhode Island Red and Indian Game.

8 pounds in 8 weeks

Chickens are losing (many have lost) their ability to be chickeny

Basic needs

Food Shelter Water Fresh Air and Sunshine Protection from Predators

Roosters