We’ll be taking part in the First Annual Maine Chicken Coop Tour that will be held this Saturday, September 28, 2013 from 10AM – 4PM. This self-guided tour will showcase an array of backyard chicken coops that display a variety of construction designs and materials, from recycled to custom designed coops. Inspired by the Funky Chicken Coop Tour in Austin, Texas, the organizers of the tour hope to bring together chicken enthusiasts while encouraging education, community, and local food.

The tour is for anyone planning to start their own backyard flock, and/or curious about why keeping backyard chickens is so popular. It is free to attend and open to the public.

What tour goers will see: Different styles of coops including an old farmhouse coop that has been customized, several coops made from unassembled and assembled kits created by the Maine company Roots, Coops & More (http://www.rootscoopsandmore.com), and coops created from plans found on the Internet or in a book. Some coops are stand alones, some are built into a barn or other farm structure.

Ask owners about using reclaimed or recycled materials, brooding chicks, protecting a flock from weather extremes, choosing a breed, predation prevention, and even composting coop litter.

Along with chickens, tour goers will have the opportunity to see honeybees, gardens, sheep, goats, and donkeys.

Due to insurance reasons, homeowners are unable to let participants use their bathrooms or enter their homes. Tour goers should plan accordingly and leave pets at home. Additionally, for bio-security purposes tour goers are asked to refrain from handling birds or touching structures, bedding or equipment during their visit.

Click here for a list of the locations or visit the Tour Facebook page for updates.

Click here for a map of participating locations.

Hope to see you Saturday!

Announcements, Events, poultry chickens, Maine Chicken Coop Tour

Charlotte inspects one of the new baby chicks

The new chicks have arrived at Ten Apple Farm! This year’s flock additions includes 12 new Delaware layers, 25 Cornish Cross and 6 Red Rangers for meat, and one free exotic (Murray McMurray always throws in a free “exotic” when you place an order for more than 25 chicks). We’ll report back on the “exotic” as it matures and we get a better sense of what it might be. For now, the girls, including Truffle the cat, are enjoying watching the lively chicks as they scurry around their box in the backhouse.

Picking up the chicks at the post office

Cornish Cross and Red Ranger chicks

Moving the chicks to the brooding box

Charlotte & chick

poultry chickens, chicks