What to Expect When You're Expecting ... Backyard Chickens

Raising backyard chickens is a popular sustainability practice today. But it's not for everyone. Before deciding, it's good to know a thing or two about what to expect and how to care for them.

On Saturday, March 30 at 10 AM, a backyard chicken raising seminar is being presented by Friends of the City of Richmond Heights. It will be held at The Heights Community Center, 8001 Dale Ave.

This event is free and open to anyone, not just Richmond Heights residents.

The seminar begins with a short presentation by Guy Niere, a long-time chicken owner who teaches beginner and intermediate classes on backyard chickens at St. Louis Community College. His passion for sustainable living and the local food movement have motivated him to also help get backyard chicken raising legalized in area cities including Richmond Heights and Black Jack. He is currently working with Brentwood residents on their legalization efforts.

Niere’s presentation will cover chicken coop considerations, how to select chickens, and preparations to make for arriving chicks and their ongoing care.

The panel discussion features Niere and three others with backyard chicken experience.  The first one is Laura Streett, a Richmond Heights resident and backyard chicken owner. She also brings a wealth of information about chickens from her work at The Green Center in University City.  The second panelist is Rochelle Skolnick, a labor lawyer and musician who recently added a small flock of laying hens to her family’s yard in Richmond Heights. 

The third panelist is Ben Speed, a student and chickenologist at Maplewood Richmond Heights High School. The 15-year-old Speed has been working with chickens for several years. He said, “I have a deep compassion for the environment and saving the planet. Chickenology is important to me because it helps me show other places what Maplewood does as a school and I think it helps plant the sustainability seed in other schools, so they can be more energy efficient just like Maplewood.”

Richmond Heights began allowing residents to raise backyard chickens in Jaunary of 2012.  “Because of the time commitment and cost required to raise chickens, our Friends organization wants to help residents decide whether chicken raising is right for them,” said Linda Lieb, board member of Friends of the City of Richmond Heights and coordinator of the effort to have the law passed. “We’re excited to offer this seminar on what to expect and how to prepare. There's a lot involved and you want to know what you're getting into.”

For more information on the seminar, call 314-646-8818 or send an email to  Lieb2060@gmail.com