438: Christine Heinrichs on Raising Backyard Chickens.
Building your food system with backyard poultry.
Christine lives on California’s Central Coast, in an unincorporated rural community. She has a small flock of about ten hens, some old friends and some newcomers. She holds a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Oregon and belongs to several professional journalism and poultry organizations.
Christine started writing about chickens in the 1980’s when she lived in San Jose and got her first hens. How to Raise Chickens was published through Quarto Publishing in 2007, just as the local food movement was starting to focus attention on our food system and backyard chickens became the symbol of local food. How to Raise Poultry followed in 2009 and her third book The Backyard Field Guide to Chickens was published in 2016. This year her first book How to Raise Chickens has been updated and re-released.Don’t miss an episode! Click here to sign up for podcast updates
In This Podcast:
Who knew when Christine Heinrichs told her daughter they could get chickens that it would shape her life into three popular books and a backyard full of heritage breeds? We sit down with Christine to discuss the re-release of her book, different chicken breeds, their characteristics, and what she learned along the way. We also discuss the mindset of raising meat hens and the importance of predator proofing your coop. We have a special giveaway opportunity for 3 lucky listeners of the podcast, listen in for instructions on how to win a copy of her updated book!
Listen in and learn about:
-
- How she got into raising chickens
- Why she wrote the book on chickens
- Finding your way with animals when you first raise them
- Varieties of chickens and heritage breeds
- The mindset of raising chickens as livestock instead of pets
- Humanely raising meat hens
- Poultry Shows and all you can learn
- The history of chicken breeds
- Buff Orpington, Dorking, Polish, Chantecler, Ameraucana, Rhode Island Red, Buckeye, Sicilian Buttercup, Leghorn, and Minorca chicken breeds
- Why you may want to limit your backyard chickens to one heritage breed.
- Characteristics and adaptations of different breeds
- Beneficial functions of chickens on a farm
- Chicken Tractors
- Predator proofing your coop
As well as: 
Her failure – Predator attacks on the flock and how to properly secure coops.
Her success – Learning and educating others on heritage breeds through her books.
Her drive – Her passion to save the world and be food secure as a community.
Her advice – Get involved with your local poultry club
Urban Farm Blogs written by Christine:
Books written by Christine:
“The Backyard Field Guide to Chickens”
Christine’s Book recommendations:
“American Standard of Perfection” by the American Poultry Association
How to reach Christine:
Facebook: Christine Heinrichs
Special Offer:
This contest is closed. We say “Thank You” to Christine and Quarto publishing for this offer.
UrbanFarm.org/christineh
Thank you to LaCrosse Boots for sponsoring this episode
LaCrosse Boots – The go-to boots for big tasks!
Note: You can also find these books mentioned above at one of our favorite local independent bookstores and have the satisfaction of knowing you are supporting a small business.
*Disclosure:
Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.
