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