2nd 'Open Chicken Run'

Despite the weather we had a good turnout for the second in our Deal With It 'Open Chicken Run's - with 18 people attending. Again a wide experience or no experience of chickens. Hope you all got something out of it!

Many thanks to Sandra Lee, her Chickens and Berty the chicken hound for hosting. Check out our 'Chicken'Page for useful links especially for those of you interested in rescued battery hens.

We will be having a third 'Open Chicken Run' in Deal's Middle Street at a date to be agreed - so watch this space. If you are interested in going please drop an email to Steve at Dealwithit2010@gmail.com or phone 01304 37 26 73.

The 'Great Big Deal Chicken Count' is going strongly in its 2nd week, with Thirty responses - interested from hearing from you if you either keep chickens or are considering it.  The Chicken Count can found here

The intention is have the first 'Deal & District Chicken Group' meeting late September - emails will go out to who have registered an interest on the 'Count' or at the 'Runs'

First Deal 'Open Chicken Run' ...

We had our first 'Open Chicken Run' today at Jill's in Walmer - very successful afternoon ; a great mix of people who are either thinking over keeping hens at home plus a variety of experienced chicken keepers who keep chickens in different situations. Lots questions and sharing of experience... I never knew chickens liked watching tv for instance!

Many thanks to Jill Cliff & her Chickens for hosting

The next 'Open Chicken Run' is next Saturday 14th August in Deal between 2-4pm - Our host Sandra has been keeping rescued battery hens for just over six months.  If you are interested in going please drop an email to Steve at Dealwithit2010@gmail.com or phone 01304 37 26 73.

The 'Great Big Deal Chicken Count' is going strongly in its 1st week, with over twenty responses - interested from hearing from you if you either keep chickens or are considering it.  The Chicken Count can found here

The 'Open Chicken Runs'

Deal With It have organised at present two ' Open Chicken Runs' to coincide with the Great Big Deal Chicken Count.

The idea to give you the chance to see some happy Deal Chickens and chat with their keepers.

So far we have two offers:

Saturday 7th August between 2-3pm - Walmer - With Jill who has been keeping hens for about 18 months

Saturday 14th August between 2-4pm - Deal - With Sandra who keeps rescued battery hens for the past year

If you are interested in going please email Steve at dealwithit2010@gmail.com or phone 01304 372673

The Great Big Deal Chicken Count...

Deal With It has organised the First 'Great Big Deal Chicken Count'. 
A number of our supporters keep chickens or are mulling it over ... got us wondering how many people are keeping chickens at their home in the district.

The Objectives of the count is:

• Find out how many urban chickens there are in Deal & District
  
• Find out how many people are considering keeping chickens and want to find out more
• Get a mutual support group off the ground in the district to share experience, information and good practice
• Promote the good management & good welfare of birds
  
• Support Deal With IT's aim to foster 'local food' consumption & production.
  

We are interested in hearing from you if you either are keeping chickens or other poultry at the moment or thinking about it for the future.

We will publish the results back to everyone who participates, on the Deal With IT website and to the local Press.

We are running the count for four weeks from 1st August to the 31st August.  The Survey is online and been found here


We have a dedicated page on chickens here 

If you want to do the survey but dont have access to the internet please email dealwithit2010@gmail.com or phone 01304 372673

The private life of chickens...

Did you miss the BBC's Private Life of Chickens on the 15th July ... Its now on IPlayer http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00t3tl1/The_Private_Life_of..._Chickens/

Everything you wanted to know about chickens but never dared to ask!

The Programme highlights the work of Hen Welfare Trust who rescues battery chickens ... watch this blog for details of Deal's 'Open Chicken Runs' happening in August

Urban Chickens Video

Great video from the Green Guardian (Ask Lucy) on the practical aspects of keeping urban chickens:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/video/2010/jan/01/ask-lucy-chicken-green-living