2011 Feathers & Fiber Coop Crawl

City Hens in Roland Park (CHIRP) is pleased to announce our first annual Feathers and Fiber Coop Crawl.

We are partnered with the Kansas City Fiber Guild for a fun day of backyard hens, coops, spinning, and fun!

Our tour starts at the Roeland Park Community Center Gazebo and admission is a non-perishable item for the Roeland Park Food Pantry.

Drop off your food item at the Community Center and grab a map to get started.  There will be a variety of activities at the Community Center and each of the CHIRP coops. This is your opportunity to see different hens and coops in a suburban setting and learn about backyard hen keeping.

Members of the Kansas City Fiber guild will be on hand spinning fibers to yarn and much more. Look for activities and information at every stop on the tour. 

And check back as our activity list is growing!

For information please email:  chirpks@gmail.com.

New Info to be Presented at Admin Meeting Monday, November 22, 6 PM

It was stated at the Town Hall Meeting that this Admin Meeting would be an opportunity to present new information.

For example, In response to the statement that there are 140 diseases that chickens carry, (link to report cited at Town Hall MTG)  actually only a handful can be transferred to humans. This is considered rare and mostly occurs under poor sanitary conditions or improper animal handling procedures. Source: Merck Veterinary Manual Zoonoses Tables The other chicken to chicken diseases flourish in overcrowded,improperly ventilated, drafty and unsanitary conditions mostly associated with large factory egg and meat production. Not likely this will be duplicated in a backyard micro-flock.

A more common and well known animal to human transmitted disease is taxoplasmosis.  Often one of the first questions a physician will ask a new mother-to-be is whether she has a cat. A common way this disease can be passed is through cat droppings.  If contracted, it can be passed on to the fetus causing birth defects. It is a serious concern, yet no one has to get rid of a cat if one adheres to some basic sanitary practices to avoid exposure during this vulnerable time Go to 2nd page for descriptive list of diseases passed from pets to humans

Isn't it funny that this risky disease does not keep lots of people from having cats as pets?  And how many cities have ordinances against this disease carrying critter because of the public health risk? Regarding most instances of diseases passed from animals to humans, it boils down to this:

Taking responsibility for one's health by practicing good  habits like hand washing after exposure to animals and their habitat, safe food handling to avoid direct exposure and cross contamination with raw food and personal risk assessment for exposure to any situation.

Please write your council representative and the mayor to voice your opinion on backyard hens.

Thank you for your continued support!

NEWS: After inquiring we have good news!

For those concerned about the cost of drafting the new Hen Ordinance: The true cost is $1000 - 2,000 ... rather than the previously stated $20,000.

Reminder: 
City of Roeland Park Admin Meeting
Monday, November 22, 2010
6:oo PM
City Hall

Email your council and voice your opinion...contact information on the city website and in our side bar.  Thanks!

Backyard Hens are not a Passing Fad!

The King of Green Gets the Scoop from the Coop with the Roeland Park Hens

Going Green with the King Podcast

Sheri and Teresa talk hens on the radio...

Urban Hen Video Stories...

Young and old alike benefit from urban hens... This day care and the assisted living community benefit from the education and experience of being around hens.

Austin Texas likes urban hens!  Home of the Funky Chicken Coop Tour.

Urban Chickens in Portland Mayor believes it is part of his city's way of endorsing sustainability.

Urban Chickens in San Diego Girl moves from country to city and raises hens!

City Hens Town Hall Meeting November 9!

City Hens Town Hall Meeting

LOCATION CHANGE!

Tuesday, November 9  

7 pm

Roeland Park City Hall
4600 W. 51st Street
Roeland Park, KS 66205

Now is the time to step up and support City Hens in Roeland Park! Please join us for discussion of the new ordinance. This is an opportunity to share information, dispell myths and talk the truth about urban hen keeping!

To request a button, fliers to distribute or other information:  chirpks@gmail.com

Thank YOU for your support!

Show your Support!

We have buttons!  We have informational flyers that you can email to your friends and don't forget the Town Hall Meeting on November 9!

We will be on the radio with the King Of Green this week talking City Hens in Roeland Park. Details to follow!

Comment on this blog or email us at chirpks@gmail.com if you want a cool button, have questions or need resources!

We are in the home stretch and need all the support we can gather!

Thank you to the volunteers and supporters who have helped make buttons, pass out flyers, do research and talk this up!  We appreciate all you do!