BOOKS
- Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow: An indepth guide for folks just starting to raise chickens
- Chicken Coops by Judy Pangman: 45 coop designs for city, country, and small- and large-scale farms
- The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow: For the larger scale, experienced chicken raiser
- The Small-Scale Poultry Flock by Harvery Ussery: Great book that works with the birds’ natural behaviors
SUPPLIES/CHICKS IN CHICAGO
- Backyard Chicken Run feed and supply home-delivery service
- The Feed Store, Harlem and 55
- Belmont Feed and Seed, 3036 W. Belmont, Chicago
- My Pet Chicken*
- McMurray Hatchery*
*NOTE: Mail ordering chicks can be stressful for the birds. You will get “filler” chicks that may be roosters. Shipments can also get lost in the mail.
COMMUNITY
- Chicago Chicken Enthusiasts Google Group: Chicago’s premiere community of chicken owners
- The Chicago Backyard Poultry Meetup Group
CERTIFIED AVIAN VETS
Tell them I sent you! Home to Roost endorses these practices in the Chicagoland area.
- Dr. Peter Sakas,Niles, Niles Animal Hospital
- Dr. Susan Horton Skokie, Chicago Exotics
- Dr. Byron de la Navarre, Chicago, Animal House of Chicago
- Drs. Ness and Nye, Lisle, Ness Exotic Wellness Center
CHICKEN SITTERS
Need a hand while you’re out of town? Here is a list of folks who are interested in offering this service.
NOTE: Home to Roost does not endorse or screen chicken sitters and can take no responsibility for quality of care. See my post suggesting chicken sitting for some ideas of how you might choose a chicken sitter.
- Carrie: culturperc at me dot com
- Kristan Green: anasaula@hotmail.com
- Diann Nails: dinails@msn.com
CHICKEN RESCUE
If you find a chicken and need to find a home for it, contact farms and animal rescues in rural areas. Remember to make a donation. Here are a few for starters:
- SASHA Farm Sanctuary, Manchester, MI (no-kill)
- Animal Welfare League, Chicago Ridge, IL (NOT no-kill)
Have a favorite resource? Post a comment below!
Posted by Alan on May 21, 2011 at 8:29 am
Recommending a vet!
http://www.nessexotic.com
Dr’s Ness and Nye used to work at Midwest Bird and Exotic Animal Hospital since the 80′s when it was THE place for exotics, until the newer management ruined it. Ness and Nye formed their own practice out in lisle. To give you an idea of their experience…
They have treated our rescued, traumatized parrot whose wings were damaged and couldn’t fly and he busted open his keel bone. He is now in perfect health.
They stitched up a BABY sparrow we found that had been mauled by a cat- it had just barely opened it eyes- he survived and was a pet of ours for many years.
They’ve also treated our chickens for parasites and a hen who had an egg so big she couldn’t get it out without help.
They also are good with our non-avian pets
Posted by chickenwoman on May 22, 2011 at 6:12 pm
Thanks, Alan!
Midwest Exotics used to be my vet; however, I had two cases where I was not pleased with their services.
I’d highly recommend Dr. Nye – good to know he has a practice in Lisle! I do not know Dr. Ness.
Thanks!
Jennifer
Posted by Susan Mitchell on May 14, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Just wondering if there are any more local sanctuaries (closer than Minnesota) that might take a rooster or two. We made the classic error of letting our hens set and are overrun with roosters. Found a home for two but probably two more need to go. If anyone can help, please, I would appreciate it.
Posted by chickenwoman on May 14, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Hi –
This is quickly becoming a question I’m getting from a number of folks, so my resources are taxed. Have you checked with the two on the Resources tab? You can always turn them into soup or give them to someone who will.
Posted by J on April 22, 2013 at 1:55 pm
Six (6) egg laying hens; one year olds. HENS free to suitable home. Reply to : tnetap40@hotmail.com