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ASHTABULA – Grounds for Growth, a local nonprofit agency, hosted a June 3rd educational seminar for local residents on how to raise chickens in both urban and rural settings in an effort aimed at increasing access to fresh, locally-raised food.

John Wright, an Ashtabula County farmer, discussed the dos and don’ts of raising chickens for students.
A March 20th change to the City of Ashtabula’s animal-control ordinance means residents can now keep chickens and other fowl on residential properties so long as they’re kept in a coop at least 15 feet from a property boundary and not in the front yard. Roosters are specifically prohibited by the March 20th ordinance.
Wright said egg output from hens has doubled since 1960 – with most domestic breeds producing somewhere in the neighborhood of 330 eggs a year.
Green plants and other vegetation is an important supplement to a chicken’s diet, which is made up mostly of seeds and grain – about a third-pound per bird per day, according to Wright.
Chickens also need access to animal foods such as grubs, worms or larvae, Wright said. These can be bought, but rolling over a log or large stone on the property will also yield plenty of forage for the birds.
“If you have fruit trees, they’ll drop fruit on their own that has worms in it,” Wright said. “That’s a perfect treat for your chickens.”
Clean water for birds is a problem, according to Wright. Automatic and electric water dispensers are best, but old-fashioned water pots will work as long as they’re kept clean.
“If a chicken can foul its water, it will,” Wright said.
Rain or well water is best, according to Wright.
Shelter for the birds, in addition to being mandatory, is required to protect birds from would-be predators such as hawks, raccoons and dogs.
Mobile shelters make for easier cleanup but fixed coops are generally the rule. Keeping clean mulch or hay down allows for a clean, disease free environment for the birds and the fouled straw or mulch can also be composted for gardening, according to Wright.
Providing chickens with access to a dust bath of sand a diatomaceous earth, which can be bought at most feed stores, will also keep chickens free of parasites that can accumulate under the animals’ feathers and spread diseases.
Wright also said so-called heritage breeds are the best for home chicken keepers, or “flocksters.”
Heritage breeds, as opposed to more modern types, are better adapted to local climates and more resistant to common local diseases and parasites, according to Wright.
When breeding chickens, Wright said it’s important to handle chicks often so they’ll be more amenable to it when they’re adults.
If properly raised and kept, the chickens raise locally offer a superior alternative to store-bought eggs and poultry.
“You can taste it in the meat,” Wright said. “It’s a healthier bird. When you eat a chicken raised by someone who’s taking care of the chickens the right way, it’s way better than a Tyson chicken.”

Pictured is John Wright, an Ashtabula County farmer, who taught a seminar on raising chickens locally at Ashtabula County Community Action Agency on June 3. Wright is holding a Speckled Sussex, one of many heritage breeds Wright said were well-suited to Northeast Ohio’s climate.