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Monday, May 21, 2012

Backyard Flock Demonstration Part 1

Backyard poultry flocks are all the rage right now as people want to produce their own eggs and meat. In February, the University of Maryland organized the Mid-Atlantic Small Flock Poultry Expo. We expected 100-200 participants. Over 400 people showed up from 7 states. People are eager to learn about how to keep backyard poultry. So at the University of Maryland research farm, we are constructing demonstration facilities that people can visit and where we can conduct education programs. Below is a photograph of the complex. Our farm manager Dave Wyand, who stands in the middle, built these facilities for us.  At the right is a large layer coop that houses two free range layer flocks. It opens onto a large pasture at the rear where portable electric netting is used to optimize pasture grazing for the flocks. This demonstrates larger scale backyard production. At the left is portable pasture coop, a “chicken tractor” as some people call them. We can load it in a pickup and take to various education events to show people with small back yards how they can keep layers. In the next few days I will post more articles that describe these systems in more detail. I want to thank Dave Wyand for the work he put into building these facilities. 
 

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's great that so many folks are joining the backyard farming and chicken raising movement. It's so nice to raise healthy animals, eat healthier foods and show our children how everything comes to be on the table. Great setup!

Qfarms said...

Nice blog post. Plz add more picturs

charlotte's menagerie said...

The interest in chickens is really catching on. Really like this post.
I love my backyard chickens.

DivaGardener said...

Oh how I wish I could have a chicken or two. But unfortunately Anne Arundel county states that you must have at least an acre of land to have chickens. Oh well.

Reasonable Season (Me) said...

In the future (and after we move out of our city neighborhood) we plan on a few chickens as well. I think I'll want to live in our new house for about a year first, though. I'm hoping hands-on educational classes will be readily available at that time too.

Great to learn of such passion going on out there! :)

Zucchinimom said...

If you get a spare moment, I would love for you to see my newest post on how we solved the problem of adding more space for our suburban backyard chickens without really taking up a lot of room. Space is at a premium here in the suburbs, and if this helps one person I would love to share!!! Love your posts!!!! I am at zucchinimom.blogspot.com . Thanks!

Unknown said...

Carmel CA just passed a law allowing 2 chicken to a property ... Our average lot size is 4000 sq ft! Email me is you are interested charlottegannaway@gmail.com

Best,
Charlotte

Tracy said...

Love the post- cudos to The University of Maryland for reaching out! I teach an "Urban Chicken" class at our local community college and have been surprised at the growing interest!