Garfield Farm Museum to offer Backyard Chicken Workshop

Garfield Farm Museum will host an afternoon session on raising a small flock of backyard chickens at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 19. The workshop will serve as a basic introduction to starting your own flock.

Dave Bauer, special projects manager and director of the chicken breeding program, and museum volunteer Samira Bamberger will provide instruction. During the workshop attendees will learn about chicken care, breed selection, incubation choices, and more. The lecture also will cover a brief history of chickens, egg collection, and hands-on participation to learn how to handle birds.

There is an $8 donation for the class. Reservations are preferred and can be made by contacting the museum at (630) 584-8485 or info@garfieldfarm.org.

The museum established a conservation flock for the Black Java chicken in 1996 and has been partnering with the Museum of Science and Industry of Chicago to help preserve this valuable genetic resource. It is the second oldest breed of American chicken with its origin going back to the 1830s. It is thus an appropriate breed for the 1840s setting of Garfield Farm Museum. The oldest breed, the Dominique was crossed with the Black Java to develop the Plymouth Barred Rock. From this was derived the White Rock which today is crossed with Cornish chickens to produce the fast-growing, meat-producing White Rock Cornish Cross found in stores today.

Participants should dress for the weather and wear appropriate footgear for winter conditions.

Garfield Farm Museum is on Garfield Road, five miles west of Geneva, off Route 38. Garfield Farm is a former historically intact 1840s Illinois prairie farmstead and teamster inn that is being restored as a working 1840s farm.