The LBCC chicken coop is up and running and the chickens are about to enjoy their free-range lifestyle.The Poultry Project began in January 2015 as a class learning task for the students in both the Profitable Small Farms Program and the Small Scale Sustainable Livestock Production course.
According to Instructor Levi Fredrikson, “First and foremost it's a learning opportunity for students to evaluate how to raise poultry sustainably.” The goals are for students to learn:
*Animal welfare
*The profitability of the system
*Land or pasture management
*Construction of structures and fencing
The chicken coop is located in the northwest corner of campus, west of the Periwinkle Child Development Center and north of the track.
Students
will take responsibilities ranging from watering to structure
management of the chickens and their coop. There are five groups for feeding, watering, egg collection, structure, and pasture management. Each team has unique objectives like keeping track of how much food is given each day and making sure the coop is cleaned.
But they've all been encouraged to be innovative. On their first work day they improved the feeder and waterer and filled in low spots of the ground to prepare for expansion of the run.
But they've all been encouraged to be innovative. On their first work day they improved the feeder and waterer and filled in low spots of the ground to prepare for expansion of the run.
The
student leader of this project is Bobby Staneart, who's been involved
with it since October. He's responsible for a list of renovations and
improvements including but not limited to mowing, moving the doors,
mounting laying boxes, ripping up the floor and replacing it with rabbit wire for easy cleaning, raising the coop for deep bedding
on the ground, and designing the newest renovation: a large run sectioned into four parts in order to rotate the flock. A large part of the work has been completed, "The only thing it's missing is the fencing and we're going to be starting on that next week," Staneart said. The fencing will be used to divide the run into four large parts surrounding three sides of the coop, leaving the front open for egg collection without a person having to enter the chicken's area. There will be gates between each section so chickens can have full access to the whole area, or just certain segments. It's the goal to let the chickens free range outside.
One of the students on the structure team is Leah Stingley,who brought a portion of the current chickens from her step-sister's home in Washington. They were always pasture raised, and are a menagerie of mixes of the egg-laying breeds.
There are 10 hens and one rooster. “The flocks integrated pretty well. They seem to be getting along," Stingley said. She is also in the process of designing a living roof complete with gutters along the front and sides of the coop to collect rainwater for the birds. This will not only make watering the flock easier, but also ensures that it is available in the dry season.
The chickens and students are adapting well to their environment and jobs. In just a short time fresh eggs will be available for sale in White Oak Hall, giving everyone a benefit to the labors of the poultry, who in turn benefit from the hard work of the students.
There are 10 hens and one rooster. “The flocks integrated pretty well. They seem to be getting along," Stingley said. She is also in the process of designing a living roof complete with gutters along the front and sides of the coop to collect rainwater for the birds. This will not only make watering the flock easier, but also ensures that it is available in the dry season.
The chickens and students are adapting well to their environment and jobs. In just a short time fresh eggs will be available for sale in White Oak Hall, giving everyone a benefit to the labors of the poultry, who in turn benefit from the hard work of the students.
Where: Northwest corner of campus
Student in Charge: Bobby Staneart
Advising Instructor: Levi Fredrikson
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