News
Spring Events and Workshops 0
Looking to start your own flock? Don't know where to start? Want to see our coops in action with chickens? Attend one of our seminars or workshops this spring! We're always adding extra dates so sign up for our newsletter to stay informed.
March |
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National Home Show & Canada BloomsMarch 9 - 18th Toronto, ON |
April |
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Hands-On Backyard Chicken WorkshopSaturday April 21st 9am-1pm Spend a morning in the Humber Arboretum with a backyard flock of chickens! A coop and flock of hens will be present for this fun learning experience. Learn all about how to raise your own egg laying flock. More information and tickets: chickensinthearb3.eventbrite.com |
May |
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Suburban Chicken Keeping Knowing where your food comes from and trying to buy local has led to increased interest in keeping animals for food in the suburbs. Before starting your own backyard farm, you need to consider bylaws, neighbors, predators and more. Join us for an evening to discuss appropriate breeds, coop design, local ordinances, and much more! More information will become available shortly at: http://www.leevalley.com/en/home/SeminarList.aspx?c=1&rs=80 |
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Hands-On Backyard Chicken Workshop Spend a morning in the Humber Arboretum with a backyard flock of chickens! A coop and flock of hens will be present for this fun learning experience. Learn all about how to raise your own egg laying flock. More information and tickets: chickensinthearb4.eventbrite.com |
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Suburban Chicken Keeping Knowing where your food comes from and trying to buy local has led to increased interest in keeping animals for food in the suburbs. Before starting your own backyard farm, you need to consider bylaws, neighbors, predators and more. Join us for an evening to discuss appropriate breeds, coop design, local ordinances, and much more! More information will become available shortly at: http://www.leevalley.com/en/home/SeminarList.aspx?c=1&rs=55 |
June |
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Hands-On Backyard Chicken Workshop Spend a morning at Lee Valley Waterloo with a backyard flock of chickens! A coop and flock of hens will be present for this fun learning experience. Learn all about how to raise your own egg laying flock. More information will become available shortly at: http://www.leevalley.com/en/home/SeminarList.aspx?c=1&rs=80 |
Do you have an event you'd like us to attend? Want to host a chicken seminar at your school or business? Contact us and we can make arrangements.
- Four Legs or Wings Pets
Dealing with the Chicken Winter Blues 0
Winters aren't always the most exciting time of year for your chickens. Lots of snow, cold winds, no bugs no munch on and less light. We've listed some ideas and products that will help your chickens deal with the winter blues and make the wait for spring seem much shorter!- Four Legs or Wings Pets
- Tags: chicken chickens in canada winter blues winter chickens
Toronto Backyard Chicken Pilot 0
Great news Toronto! In certain wards, backyard chickens are allowed as part of a city-run pilot project.
To celebrate, we are offering 10% off your coop order and free shipping to all residents of Toronto. Just use discount code TORONTOPILOT and select "Free shipping 150km of Toronto" on checkout. This offer runs for the month of October.
Here are the details of the pilot project. If you have any questions about chicken keeping, drop us a line! 1-877-672-4755
Toronto Backyard Chickens Pilot Project:
1. Notwithstanding that chickens are currently on the List of Prohibited Animals in Toronto, City Council authorize the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to develop and implement a pilot program as soon as possible and at least prior to the end of October, 2017 permitting backyard hens in Wards 5, 13, 21 and 32 for a period of up to three years from the date of implementation, with an interim review after 18 months. Such pilot program is to include the following conditions:
a. participants in the pilot program must register, as directed, with the City and must be the owner or lawful occupant of the property;
b. only residential properties are permitted to be registered. Neither apartment buildings, condominium buildings, nor properties without sufficient outdoor space to house the hens, as determined by the Executive Director, Municipal, Licensing and Standards will be permitted;
c. limit of four backyard hens per property;
d. participants agree to permit City staff to attend and inspect the property as deemed necessary to fulfill the purposes of the pilot program, and compliance with applicable bylaws;
e. participants shall agree to terms and conditions satisfactory to the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards prior to keeping hens on the owner's property;
f. no roosters are permitted;
g. participants must comply with Chapter 349, Article III, Care of Animals and all other applicable laws;
h. hens must remain on the owner's property, and further, any hen found off the property of the owner will be considered at large in the City; and
i. the eggs produced are for personal consumption. The sale, or offering for sale, or any other type of distribution is prohibited.
- Four Legs or Wings Pets
- Tags: backyard chickens legal chickens toronto bylaw toronto chicken pilot toronto chickens
Hands On Chicken Seminar - Extra Date! 0
After selling out the last event, we've added an extra date on October 28th!
GTA residents:
Spend a morning in the Humber Arboretum with a backyard flock of chickens! A coop and flock of hens will be present for this fun learning experience. Learn all about how to raise your own egg laying flock. Topics of discussion will include chicken handling, feeding and watering, health, bylaws, coops and much more. Participants will leave with a good understanding of how to keep chickens of their own.
Four Legs or Wings Pets will be on site with their Eglu Cube and Eglu Go Up chicken coops to try out as well as some laying hens.
This is an outdoor event, so please dress for the weather. Access to facilities will be available. This event has limited spacing.
Participants at this event will be given a $50 credit towards the purchase of any Eglu coop or walk in run. Conditions apply.
For full details and tickets, visit: chickensinthearb2.eventbrite.com
- Four Legs or Wings Pets
Plastic Coops vs Wooden Coops 0
We get asked a lot about what makes a plastic coop like our line of Eglu better than a traditional wood construction coop. Let's look at the differences between the two coop types.
Lifespan
When investing in anything, longevity of a product is very important. You don't want to purchase something two or three times. Buying a poorly made wooden coop you may find yourself replacing it after a few seasons. Better quality wooden coops made with the right materials will last longer before they need maintenance.
Our plastic coops have a very long lifespan! No need to replace your coop after a few years of use. Rain, snow or sun, doesn't deteriorate the UV stabilized plastic. The plastic in our coops isn't the same you find in cheap kids toys or patio sets. Ours were designed to live long lives outside all year round.
Maintenance
Wooden coops need increased maintenance the older they get. Paint peels, wood rots, fasteners loosen and thin galvanized mesh wears through. Every couple of years you may have to repaint or replace wooden parts that have taken a beating from the weather.
The only maintenance you'll have to complete on a plastic coop is cleaning out any poop and dirty bedding, and giving things a good hosing down to get it back in spotless condition.
Pests & Mites
If you get pests like mites in your coop, they can be quite a challenge to get rid off and it may take weeks of regular cleaning and spraying with solutions to control. In wooden coops, mites can find spots to hide away from the spraying and cleaning you're doing to get rid of them. Once you think you have the problem dealt with, they reappear and you have to start again. Mites will hide in corners where sheets of wood meet as well as in knots and grain found in wood and plywood.
With our plastic coops, there aren't any hiding spots for the pests to hide away in. All of the component that make our plastic coops come apart for easy cleaning and disinfecting. Mites don't stand a chance and the problem is quickly dealt with.
Still have more questions? Give us a call toll free 1-877-672-4755 or contact us by email.
- Four Legs or Wings Pets
- Tags: coop comparison plastic coop wooden coop
Chickens in Winter? 0
We get a lot of questions about keeping chickens in the Canadian winter. Most people are amazed how easy it is to keep them, even here in the great (and cold) white north.
What breeds are good for winter?
Most breeds sold in Canada are winter hardy. Sex links, Chanteclers, Barred Rocks and Orpingtons are few worth mentioning. All breeds of chickens will grow in extra feathers as the weather cools to prepare them for the winter.
Do your coops work in Canadian winters?
The line of Omlet coops work great in Canadian winters! We have tested them without any issue. The hens were happy, warm and laying eggs even on the coldest of days!
Do I need heat in winter?
Adding a heat lamp or heater to a coop is a big no-no! Your hens won't grow in any extra feathers to help them acclimatize to the cooling weather and if the power were to go out (as it tends to do in winter) your birds will freeze quite quickly.
How do I keep my hens cozy in the run?
Your hens will behave the same way as they do in summer if you can stop snow and wind getting into the run. Using our run covers, you can create wind blocks and cover from the elements. Chickens only have issues with the cold when the draft parts their feathers and cools down their bodies. No draft, no cold birds.
Will they go outside? Do I need to leave food in the coop?
Your hens will happily leave the coop all winter as long as the run is snow and wind free. If you free range, you may find some of your birds a little reluctant to wander around in the snow.
Food and water should only be available to your flock in the run. Putting food or water in the coop is unnecessary and will create extra mess and moisture in the coop. There are no benefits to food or water in the coop.
Will the water freeze?
Once the temperature regularly dips below 0°C your water will freeze. You can change the water throughout the day, replacing the ice with water or you can use a heated chicken waterer.
Will the eggs freeze?
It takes a few hours, but your eggs will freeze. We find it best to check for eggs more often in the winter to avoid cracked shells.
- Four Legs or Wings Pets
- Tags: backyard chickens chicken coop winter canada chickens in winter chickens winter canada
