Chickens at Hillside Center for Sustainable Living

Written and photographed by Sadie Woodward

If you’ve been around the Hillside community lately, you may have noticed some new residents! The Hillside chickens have moved into their new habitat, and are settling in quite nicely.

This flock of hens, raised by our own Director of Sustainable Agriculture Jeremy Tackett, are a “barnyard mix.” They include breeds such as speckled lace, Ameraucana, Wyandotte, Barred Rock, White Leghorn, Black Jersey Giant, and Buff Orpington.

For those who visit the coop with a guide, you may notice pretty blue or green eggs. That is a feature of the Ameraucana breed! 

All these breeds are hardy, and are able to huddle together and keep warm in the cold winters.

The cold does take a toll on their energy levels. This causes them to lay fewer eggs in the winter months. However, once the days get warmer, the chickens will have more energy to contribute to egg laying, and the community may see as many as 30 eggs per day!

The chicken run viewed from Hillside Ave.

Jeremy, having worked with chickens for over a decade, has developed a special feed mix for the flock. He combines grain with oregano, cayenne pepper, and other herbs like wormwood, nasturtium, basil and mint. These supplemental herbs and spices help keep the flock healthy and guarded from infections and parasites.

Residents can also donate their home compost to the chicken coop as feed. Once we begin growing crops in the Grange, most of the flock’s diet will be produced on site. The flock will then become part of the circular system toward which Hillside is striving.

The Hillside team is working on a system for egg distribution among the community. Stay tuned! Also, mark your calendars for our Southrise open house on April 11th, 12th, and 13th. See the Hillside community, our new Southrise building, and the chickens up close!