The Killingworth Library is not actually raising chickens, but we are hosting a program on the subject! On April 29 at 7pm, come join Stephanie Lesnik of Field House Farm in Madison who will talk about the care and healthy maintenance of a backyard chicken flock. Whether you’re thinking about raising chickens for eggs, for meat, or as pets, Lesnik will cover the types of feed and supplies needed, how to decide between starting from chicks or hatching your own, signs of illness, as well as care and management of a flock.
As a larger scale chicken farmer, Lesnik will include comparisons and contrasts between the small backyard flock and commercial poultry raising. She uses her experience and that of other expert farmers in the field to tailor her flock raising habits and processing techniques to fit Field House Farm’s model of self-sustaining and humane animal husbandry.
Lesnik stresses a conscientious plan of owning chickens. “Right now, owning chickens is so trendy and, while I don’t want to discourage anyone from owning chickens, people often don’t have a responsible plan before they start,” she says,
“People often lose interest in the fall when the weather starts turning foul or when the chicken stops laying eggs. A well cared for chicken can live 10 to 12 years,” she points out and adds, “As a mom of four, part of my mission of education is teaching responsibility.”
“They are very endearing creatures, They provide a lot in terms of our food chain. They are really sweet animals. They eat bugs and ticks. And, they’re funny,” Lesnik says.
The program is free but please register in advance by calling the Killingworth Library at 860-663-2000 or stopping by in person.
