As spring arrives at the Accokeek Foundation, so too have fresh eggs, as our chickens have begun once again to lay.
These black and white Dominiques are recognized as America's first chicken breed.
Our two flocks are some of the stars of the barnyard, clucking and cooing and even controlling small pests. Indeed, our lustrous red Buckeyes—the only American breed created entirely by a woman—are vigilant in their pursuit of mice (and have even been compared to cats in this regard). Right next door lives a flock of Dominiques: black and white barred birds that are recognized as America’s first chicken breed.
The conservation of endangered livestock breeds—from our heritage chickens to our heritage hogs, sheep, and cattle—is just one small piece of the Foundation’s wider historical mission. But with fresh brown eggs in our kitchen and insects out of our barnyard, keeping chickens often seems more like fun than work.
Interested in raising poultry of your own? Sign up for our upcoming Backyard Poultry Workshop!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
9:00 a.m. to Noon
Accokeek Foundation Education Center
$40 Non-members, $35 members
This course will provide you with the information that is needed to raise your own poultry. Participants will receive a handbook and other take-home materials. Pre-registration required.
To learn more about keeping chickens in Prince George’s County, visit www.pghens.com or send an email to princegeorgeshens (at) gmail (dot) com.