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MULCH Chickens

MULCH (Macalester Urban Land and Community Health) has backyard chickens on campus! The purpose of keeping chickens on campus is to provide an ongoing hands-on educational project for students, faculty, staff, and community members. Through this project, participants and visitors will learn about how to care for chickens as part of a more sustainable urban landscape and foodscape. The planning process for this project began in the Fall of 2010 and continued throughout following the winter and spring. In March of 2011, students began working with a group of Amish furniture makers from Harmony, Minnesota to design the coop. The coop was constructed in early April behind the Spanish house, next to the MULCH garden. The chickens were purchased as soon as the coop was finished, on April 10th. There are now six chickens happily inhabiting their new home – 2 Arucanas, 2 Speckled Sussexes, a Black Sex-Link, and a Black Australorpe. The chickens will be cared for by members of MULCH, and eggs will be distributed among the caretakers. If you would like to get involved this summer, email lplummer@macalester.edu.

See a video and news story about the chickens

FAQs

Why does Macalester have chickens?

The purpose of keeping chickens on campus is to provide an ongoing hands-on educational project for students, faculty, staff, and community members.

What are the educational benefits of having chickens?

The campus chicken coop provides an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to learn about the role of keeping animals on a small scale as part of sustainable urban agriculture.

Who is taking care of the chickens?

Students involved with MULCH with support from faculty and staff.

Where is the coop from?

It was constructed by Amish furniture makers from Harmony, Minnesota and installed with the help of Macalester students and facilities staff.

What is MULCH?

Macalester Urban Land and Community Health runs the on campus student community garden. The organization also puts on events and does outreach and education around sustainable food and agriculture.

Who can I contact about chickens?

Jonas Yela – jyela@macalester.edu

Kyle Gename – kgename@macalester.edu

Resources:

Egg/plant Urban Farm Supply

Anoka Ramsey Lawn and Hardware, (763)421-0223

Committee for the Long-term Undertaking of Chicken Keeping (CLUCK) - The CLUCK committee of faculty and staff support the MULCH students:  Christie Manning, Tom Welna, Lee Olson, Mike Hall, Ruth Janisch Lake, Mark Dickinson, Suzanne Savanick Hansen