University of Alberta’s hugely popular heritage chicken distribution program is now on — but hurry before they’re all gone.
“This year, we’re offering Plymouth barred rock, brown leghorn, random bred broiler 1978, light Sussex and Rhode Island Red chicks,” said Jesse Hunter, program co-ordinator. “We hatch a certain number of each breed every year, so check the website to order your favourite breed before they’re gone.”
Heritage chicks must be pre-ordered at www.heritagechickens.ca and then picked up at local Peavey Marts across Alberta. (You can also adopt a chicken and receive two dozen eggs every two weeks.)
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For orders of up to 20 of the day-old chicks, the cost is $8 each per bird. The price per chick drops to $6 for orders of 21 to100 birds and to $4 for orders of 101 to 500 birds. As part of the program, two small-flock workshops are being held — April 12 in Spruce Grove and April 13 at Red Deer, which run from 5 to 9 p.m. To register, go to www.eventbrite.ca (search for ‘small flock’).
“The workshops are an opportunity to learn about biosecurity, housing, nutrition, disease identification, behaviour, anatomy, and more,” said Hunter.
