Chicago Chicken Enthusiasts

03/06/2025

"For those always asking where people get their egg cartons when these prices are insane lately…. I put out a post to our community. Minimum 5 used cartons in exchange for a dozen eggs. We received over 50 paper cartons and tons of plastic ones in exchange for a total of three dozen eggs. Well worth the cost!" (Stolen from another FB page)

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03/06/2025

Egg prices are skyrocketing, and your first thought may be, “I’ll get some chickens!” Even though baby chicks are cute and inexpensive, consider the following before you take the plunge:

* Chickens live anywhere from 4 to 10 years. Their peak of lay is the first 2 to 3 years of life. And it takes 5 to 6 months before they start laying.

* You’ll need a solidly built coop to keep them safe and happy. It’s best to build it yourself of quality materials, rather than buying a cheap prefab coop.

* Like other animals, chickens get sick. Vet care is the most humane option and is part of responsible animal ownership. It is also expensive.

* Chickens are a 24/7 commitment. If you go out of town, you’ll have to find someone to tend them morning and evening.

* Laying hens need proper nutrition to keep their bodies healthy. This includes specially formulated feed.

* You’ll need to take precautions to prevent lice and mites, as well as rodents, from finding your birds and your coop.

* There are few farms that want to take chickens when they no longer fit their owners’ lifestyle.

* Chickens are different from dogs and cats; they’re a prey species, and they’re birds. Their bodies work differently from those of mammals, and they think about the world differently.

Before bringing chicks home, educate yourself on what’s involved in chicken keeping: Take a class, read books, watch YouTube videos. Be prepared for this commitment to ensure those chicks have a safe forever home.

Some of our favorite resources:
--Chicago-based Home to Roost LLC (offering two FREE classes this spring at local libraries)
--The Chicken Chick
--The Chicken Whisperer
--Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow
--Chicks in the City by Patricia Foreman

What are some of your go-to sources on chicken care?

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02/28/2025

Avian flu PPE from our friends at Advocates for Urban Agriculture:

In light of the on-going necessity of precautions to prevent the spread of Bird Flu, AUA has set up a fund to support costs associated with purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE) and equipping your coop or other outdoor farm animal enclosures to prevent wild bird access. Up to $100 of support is available for growers, farmed animal keepers, and members of organized wild bird stewardship organizations in the following counties: Cook, Lake, McHenry, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Grundy, Will, and Kankakee. Funds are
available through Friday, 2/28/25 or until funds are exhausted. If you are interested and eligible, please fill out and submit this form For recommendations on PPE to use, please check out our webpage

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02/21/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14tRdGTMYh/

02/12/2025

Due to H5N1 avian flu concerns, the IL Dept of Agriculture has suspended poultry exhibition and sales for 30 days, starting 2/11/25.

02/04/2025

Stay safe out there!
https://www.dupagehealth.org/793/Avian-Influenza-H5-Bird-Flu?fbclid=IwY2xjawIPRdJleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHb5BdE7Y54mdnFbdzk-p42cOosNuAAV81MuF1snQzIrovmw8h1A-39YK2w_aem_uC_wL2Wu6EsOQ3etfXRoJw

The public is reminded to not handle or attempt to capture waterfowl or other wild birds displaying signs of illness.IDNR will continue to monitor for HPAI mortality events throughout the state during the seasonal bird migration. Members of the public are encouraged to report concentrations of five....

02/03/2025

Avian flu has reached Chicago: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18YT6Xcoy9/

01/23/2025

This is in Matteson:

Kakadoodle Farm in Matteson lost its entire flock of nearly 3,000 hens. Andrew Ramos reports.

01/21/2025

How are all your birds doing today? Stay warm out there, folks!

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12/30/2024

Avian influenza has been detected in wastewater in DuPage County and has killed waterfowl in Woodstock, IL.

Advice for protecting your flock is here:

A new strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is threatening poultry in the United States, both in backyards and in commercial facilities. A backyard flock in Michigan was diagnosed with…

12/27/2024

Ruben Juarez lives in Warrenville, IL. He has 12 chickens that he needs to rehome because he needs to relocate. They are 1 year old. Contact Ruben at 630 320 9395.

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11/26/2024

She's been rehomed!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1UuFooSzPU/

UPDATE - several possible homes have been offered, owners will decide soon.

She has been rehomed; thank you for your interest.

11/22/2024

Many people ask, "What do you do with your chickens in winter?" What's your best advice?

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11/14/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15SuQD3aNh/

11/08/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18ExbLLrMH/

CONTACT KELLY CALABRESE by Facebook Messenger or by email: [email protected] Kelly from Rogers Park is rehoming a coop. She says “The coop was in my backyard from a previous owner so …

11/05/2024

Are you interested in starting your own backyard flock? Or maybe you already have a few feathered friends and want to expand your knowledge on their care? Join the Orland Park Public Library for Basic Backyard Chicken Keeping on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Read our blog post below to find out more information!
https://htrchickens.com/2024/11/05/basic-backyard-chicken-keeping-at-orland-park-public-library/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGXRhFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHV5som3RMED0N4OKPjOPP4IrQGzElibv3ycLvHQjz83uZnJs8_B6jL4bNg_aem_MgooYxO4WE0r-NekPBpuXg

Are you interested in starting your own backyard flock? Or maybe you already have a few feathered friends and want to expand your knowledge on their care? Join the Orland Park Public Library for Ba…

10/09/2024

These birds have been rehomed. Thank you for your interest.