“My mom has backyard chickens and she’s kind-of a wing-it chicken owner. If my mom can keep these chickens alive, get some eggs out of it, and she seems to be loving it, why couldn’t we?”
That’s how Joann Petras finds herself inside a chicken coop on the edge of Hay River.
This is the Hay River Community Garden Society’s new coop, built with help from Arcan Construction – which donated materials, labour and some design input – and Yellowknife Community Foundation funding. The society calls this “the Cadillac of coops.” The chickens declined to comment, in English at least, but seemed content.
Hay River’s community garden, with the coop in the background. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
There are 14 Leghorn chickens in the coop, acquired on May 10 from a hatchery in Spruce Grove. That date sticks in Megan Buhler’s mind because that’s the day she and her family drove the chickens up from Alberta to Hay River in the back of their truck. That was a learning experience.
“There was definitely an oh shit moment, literally and figuratively,” said Buhler, recalling the poop in the back of the truck.
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“We pulled into town at midnight and we were using flashlights to try and get them into the coop. It was a memorable day.”
Buhler isn’t the only one on a rapid learning curve. The Buhler and Petras families are thrilled that their kids can experience raising chickens and help the broader community garden thrive, without the chickens having to be one family’s full-time occupation.
Instead, residents of Hay River sign up to take care of the chickens for one day each week. A list of tasks is posted to the side of the coop, and the society has signed up for a distance-learning chicken-keeping course through the University of Alberta.
In return for your hard work, you get that day’s collection of eggs.
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“It’s a fraction of the work of owning your own chickens, but I still get the same amount of pleasure,” said Petras, who is the society’s secretary.
“I get to bring my daughter whenever I want to come and visit the coop, and harass the chickens – in ethical ways.”
Chickens inside the Hay River community garden coop. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Breakfast time. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
“They’re just fun,” said Buhler.
“Really, it’s about the kids and the exposure to finding out where your food comes from and what goes into food production. Same with gardening, it’s trying to spark the curiosity in kids to see what it takes to grow things and take care of a small animal, and what do they provide for us?
“When you involve them in these sorts of things, they’re more likely on board to adopt healthy eating practices and be more into cooking, growing and eating healthy.”
The young Buhlers and Petrases, meanwhile, are apprehensively dangling corn cobs with parental supervision. A flock of hungry chickens gathers beneath each cob and launches themselves upward.
“They love it. They loved it from the get-go. They’ve been talking about this even before the coop happened,” said Petras (of the kids, not the chickens, though it may be equally applicable).
“I think that’s what held us all accountable to actually making it work. Megan planted the seed in all of the children, and then they kept talking about the chickens, so we had to actually action the plan.”
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“It’s not just about kids,” Buhler added. “People are really interested in them. They’ve always wanted to try out chickens. They want to see what’s entailed in taking care of them. We’ve had a lot of good community feedback and people interested in wanting to be a part of this.”
Hay River’s highrise is seen from the town’s community garden. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Plots at the garden. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
The coop is part of a larger plan to enhance the community garden.
In the old days, Buhler said, the garden was too large, unwieldy and overgrown, which put people off.
Significant alterations and renovations have led to new, smaller plots that are much more attractive. New fencing will make the plots and the greenhouse more secure, and a communal berry patch is the next item on the to-do list, as well as power for the greenhouse to open up some ventilation options.
“It’s really coming together and there’s a lot of interest lately. All of our outdoor garden beds are full,” said Buhler.
She hopes the chickens add a new dimension to the community garden not just as a food producer and educational tool, but also as ambience.
“There’s quite a few families with small children, a lot of single people or newcomers to Hay River. This is kind-of a gathering place,” she said.
“If you’re out here by yourself, you’re not alone, and you hear them kind-of talking to you. I’m really happy to have them out here for everyone to enjoy and learn about.”
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