Description
Backyard Chicken Keeping
(27 & 28 May 2023)
Keeping happy, healthy & productive chooks.
We are excited to bring you our first weekend workshop!
Over two days you will learn the basics of keeping happy, healthy and productive chooks plus more advanced aspects of chicken keeping, including adding to your flock, advanced nutrition, enhancing habitat and rooster management.
Day 1 will be introductory and Day 2 advance. You can choose to come for either or both days, depending on where you are at with your chicken journey!
Day 1 (Saturday 27 May): On the first day we will cover the basics of keeping happy, healthy and productive chickens. We will cover the essentials of keeping chickens, such as establishing great housing & monitoring their environment, choosing chickens that are right for you, keeping them healthy including ensuring they are getting the right nutrition and meeting their everyday needs. Essentially we will cover all you need to know to start and maintain a healthy contented flock!
This day is designed for those thinking of starting a flock or those relatively new to chicken keeping. Or, for those who are simply crazy about chickens and want to hang out with like-minded souls ☺
Day 2 (Sunday 28 May): The second day will see us go a little deeper. We cover adding to your flock, which includes introducing new chooks, breeding (fertilised eggs, chicks, hatching), plus working with a broody hen or an incubator. We will cover ‘going the extra mile’ in terms of nutrition (fermenting grains, enhancing protein uptake) and their environment (building ‘toys’, growing medicinal plants, creating a browsing garden) and performing an overall health and maintenance check. In the afternoon we will look at managing roosters (keeping roosters, behavioural considerations) and dispatching them (hands-on demonstration). For those who do not wish to attend this session there will be an additional ‘chook-centric’ session on offer.
This day is hands-on and interactive, designed to meet the needs of those who already have a flock and are wanting to advance their skills. It is best suited to those who already have an established flock or who have attended one of our introductory days.
Saturday 27 May & Sunday 28 May
Both days: 9am to 3pm
at Schoolhouse Farm
Verona, Bega Valley, NSW
Booking Options
Day 1 alone: $150pp (Children 5-16 $100)
Day 2 alone: $175pp (Children 5-16 $125)
Day 2 alone discount for those who have previously attended one of our introductory courses: $150pp
Day 1 and Day 2 combined: $300pp (Children 5-16 $225)
Scrumptious morning tea and lunch included on both days.
Limited numbers – workshops fill very quickly so please book soon
Your hosts will be
Deborah Gough – Schoolhouse Farm
Heritage Chicken Breeder & Small Farm Produce
Cheryl Nelson – Natural Chicken Health
Producer of Super Mash & voice of ‘Chook Chat’
Dean Batten (verified owner) –
I attended Deb and Cheryl’s inaugural Chicken Course in June, and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed my day there. Deb and Cheryl were both welcoming, friendly, and extremely knowledgeable about every aspect of keeping and caring for chooks. The attendees ranged from people thinking of getting chickens to those who have kept a flock for years. I hadn’t anticipated the lovely dynamic that would naturally develop among a group of people assembled to learn more about these quirky, personality-packed little birds. Deb and Cheryl led informative presentations on a variety of subjects, but there were also practical small group activities that fostered a lively exchange among the attendants. Topics of instruction included chook friendly coop construction and maintenance, safety of the flock, chicken health and nutrition, and chicken breeds and breeding, to name a few. I have been keeping chickens for about 5 years and was surprised by how much was completely new to me and how many basic errors I had been making. I have already put many of the things I learned into practice and my flock has never looked healthier or happier. I can’t wait to sign up for the Level II course Deb and Cheryl hinted at offering in the future and look forward to another day well spent at School House Farm.
Ps: A special shout out to Chef Steve who stealthily provided tasty fare for morning tea and lunch. Delish.
admin –
Thank you Dean! What a generous review. We totally loved having you join us on our inaugural course, what a fun day that was 🙂 Look forward to you joining us again some day. And thank you for taking such fabulous care of your Schoolhouse Farm flock too – we know they are contented chooks in your care 🙂
Sue Cechet (verified owner) –
I have attended both Day One and Day Two of the Backyard Chicken Keeping Course and thoroughly recommend both days. Deb, Cheryl and Steve provide a warm, relaxed and friendly learning environment where no question is too simple or complicated. The hands on component is particularly useful and informative. I have also purchased all my lovely chickens from Deb and Steve and happily received chickens that have obviously been well looked after as well as lots of additional helpful advice. I would feel very comfortable contacting them for chicken related advice into the future. If you are interested in chicken keeping and purchase I highly recommend School House Farm.
admin –
Thanks Sue! We’ve loved having you in the courses. And most certainly we are very happy that you have a range of Schoolhouse Farm hens in your ‘back-yard’ too – we know ‘our’ girls are living their best life with you 🙂
Jess –
I attended the day 1 chicken course. I had no previous chicken experience and the course completely lived up to my expectations! I walked away with all knowledge I needed to house, feed, and keep chickens happy and healthy. I also walked away with a smile ( great day with like minded people) and a full stomach (Deb and Cheryl put on the most amazing morning tea and lunch)!
They were the most amazing hosts, generous with their hospitality and knowledge. No questions was left unanswered.
I highly recommend for anyone who wants to know more about keeping chickens!
admin –
Thanks for your generous feedback Jess! So glad the day was such a success for you; it was great to have you join us! We look forward to supporting you and family on your chicken journey!