Backyard Chicken Keeping

Want to start a chicken flock but don’t know where to start? We’ll walk you through the process in 2 informative hands-on workshops

Bwwaack, bwwaack! We’re crowing about our EGGcellent two-session Chicken Keeping workshop designed to offer the novice a comprehensive guide to raising chickens responsibly at home. The series is broken into two sessions. Take one, or both! Participants will be able to purchase their own handy starter pack, including feeder, waterer, wood shavings and 5-lb bag of organic feed!

Workshops taught by our own WTF staff and local chicken experts, guest speakers and sponsors.

Pricing: $60 per session (sold individually).

Optional: Optional: $50 Chicken Starter Pack: feeder, waterer, wood shavings and 5-lb bag of organic feed

Session 1: April 1 6:30 PM 2026– Introduction & Starting Your Flock

Introduction & Starting Your Flock, Coop/Habitat/Environment

In this first session we’ll cover the basics, housing, spacing, habitat, environment including:

• Why chickens?
• How chickens (flock) can enrich/benefit your life/health
• Environmental positive impacts/benefits to your yard
• Chicken facts, True/false (Salmonella, fertilized/unfertilized eggs)
• Basic chicken anatomy
• Starting a flock: How many to get, what breeds to consider, what am I raising them for, i.e, eggs/meat, etc.
• Rooster pros & cons
• Coop Basics: Build or buy? Space needed per chicken, yard placement, run/enclosure safety, predator security.
• Free range pros & cons, do’s & don’ts
• Local zoning
• Do’s & don’ts

Session 2 – April 29 6:30 PM 2026

Basic Needs, Products, Maintaining your Flock, Behavior & Physical Health

In the second session, we will cover basic chicken needs. We get down to the nitty gritty of products and what to expect in terms of your chick’s health, development & behaviors.

Chicken basic needs: Food, water, shelter, exercise, dust bathing, seasonal needs

• Creating a happy, stress-free environment/eliminating stress factors. ie.: chicken swing, perches, toys, treats, etc.
• Product recommendations, i.e.: food/water dispensers, heaters, etc.
• Coop maintenance
• Physical & behavior: Physical health, Molting, egg laying/changes in egg production. Seasonal & physical changes, etc.
• Disease & pests: Common problems, what they are prone to, symptoms/what to look for, basic solutions (mites, pasty butt, etc.)
• Support materials