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Garfield Farm Museum offers workshop on backyard chickens

Garfield Farm Museum in Campton Hills will host an afternoon session on raising a small flock of backyard chickens at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 28.

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 $6 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 as after the class there will be an outdoor session.

Visit www.garfieldfarm.org or www.facebook.com/GarfieldFarmMuseum/.

Garfield Farm Museum is a 375-acre historically intact former 1840s prairie farmstead and teamster inn that volunteers and donors are preserving as an 1840s living history museum. The museum is on Garfield Road, off Route 38, five miles west of Geneva.

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