Campus Chickens
Ten years after its founding, the Campus Garden welcomed its first flock of chickens. The flock gives students the opportunity to get hands-on experience working with microlivestock in a regenerative setting.
True citizens of a permaculture forest garden, chickens serve multiple functions:
- Produce fertilizer
- Eat garden and apiary pests
- Speed up composting progress
- Provide companionship and entertainment
- Eggs are just a bonus!
Get Involved!
- Volunteer in morning to feed and let chickens out
- Evening lock up, making sure all our feathered friends are safe in their coop
- Throughout the day check-ins (looser, not necessarily scheduled)
- Friday deep clean-ups (likely during normal garden workdays)
Meet the Chickens
(Big) Bertha (Black Jersey Giant) - Extremely friendly, and is harnessed trained. Has a short attention span and is highly food motivated. Likes being perched up high to watch the world! Has an odd earlobe. Favorite snack: Pretty much anything.
Cate (Black Jersey Giant) - The smallest of the Jerseys and has yellower legs. Is very sweet and always runs to greet whoever stops by. Favorite snack: Cut-leaf coneflower leaves
Margo (White Leghorn) - Keeps everyone in check, breaks up fights. Is an avid frog hunter in springtime. Favorite snack: Tomatoes (Note: tomato fruits are fine for chickens, but the plant itself is very toxic.)
Jungle Boogie (Ameraucana Easter-egger) - Scared of falling leaves, apples, and rabbits. Likes randomly running and screaming, though mostly stays hidden and generally dislikes being handled. Named after the song by Kool and the Gang, to which you should take a listen. Favorite snack: Cucumbers & chickweed
Sweet Lips/Sweet Heart (Favorelle) - As a lovely French lady, she has extra toes! She always has a lot to say about the world. Likes to inspect the shoes and pants of visitors. Loves pecking at buttons and shoelaces! Favorite snack: Watermelon
Eggs
In the spirit of the permaculture ethic of Fair Share (redestribution of surplus), the 5-8 eggs we get each week are used for garden events and Lifelong Learning programs.
Chicken Care
- Food/water
- Provided and foraged
- Grit
- Clean space
- Deep litter
- Protection
- Eventual guard geese
- Lighting
- Fencing
Meet the Chickens
(Big) Bertha (Black Jersey Giant) - Extremely friendly, and is harnessed trained. Has a short attention span and is highly food motivated. Likes being perched up high to watch the world! Has an odd earlobe. Favorite snack: Pretty much anything.
Cate (Black Jersey Giant) - The smallest of the Jerseys and has yellower legs. Is very sweet and always runs to greet whoever stops by. Favorite snack: Cut-leaf coneflower leaves
Margo (White Leghorn) - Keeps everyone in check, breaks up fights. Is an avid frog hunter in springtime. Favorite snack: Tomatoes (Note: tomato fruits are fine for chickens, but the plant itself is very toxic.)
Jungle Boogie (Ameraucana Easter-egger) - Scared of falling leaves, apples, and rabbits. Likes randomly running and screaming, though mostly stays hidden and generally dislikes being handled. Named after the song by Kool and the Gang, to which you should take a listen. Favorite snack: Cucumbers & chickweed
Sweet Lips/Sweet Heart (Favorelle) - As a lovely French lady, she has extra toes! She always has a lot to say about the world. Likes to inspect the shoes and pants of visitors. Loves pecking at buttons and shoelaces! Favorite snack: Watermelon