Explore the basics of raising your own chickens. Learn how to start and manage your own flock!
Raising chickens is the easiest way to get local, organic food from your own backyard. Chickens love to eat your vegetable or kitchen scraps, reducing food waste and the size of our local landfill. In exchange, chickens provide fresh organic eggs and natural fertilizer for your garden.
These feathered companions are good-natured pets with many benefits. But as with any new pet, you’ll want to know the basics first. Learn from an expert and take home the resources you need to get started.
Join us in The Ecology Center’s garden and around our chicken coop to learn how to start and maintain your own flock.
In this workshop you will learn:
- About chicken behavior and proper handling methods by spending some time with The Ecology Center’s flock
- The life cycle, characteristics, breeding, and many benefits of raising your own chickens
- About coop design, daily maintenance, proper food, feeders, waterers, and predator prevention
- How to spot, prevent, and treat the most common diseases
- How to obtain permits to get and keep chickens in your backyard
All attendees will receive an informational hand-out to complement the subjects covered in the workshop.
Instructor: Chef Kerri Cacciata
Instructor Bio: Kerri was born and raised in Orange County. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in community organizing in San Francisco and studied culinary arts locally, finding harmony when the two subjects come together. She has worked in non-profit agencies, farmers markets, and in a number of professional kitchens. Kerri is a leader in the sustainable food movement in Orange County and currently leads The Ecology Center’s Community Table Accord and food programming.
Kerri acquired her chicken knowledge through 10 years of caring from her own backyard flock and teaching workshops. As The Ecology Center’s chef-in-residence, she keeps our chickens well fed with kitchen scraps!
