Welcome to Chicken Keeping 101
A beginner-friendly chicken keeping workshop near Kentville, Nova Scotia.
If you’re thinking about getting chickens but aren’t sure where to start, you’re in the right place.
Feathered Fundamentals is a small-group, in-person workshop for new chicken keepers and people planning their first flock. From bringing home your first chicks to collecting your first egg, it will walk you through the basics in a clear, practical way so you can feel confident in caring for your flock.
This is in-person learning built around real experience and real flocks. No judgment, no gatekeeping, and no pretending everything always goes perfectly. Just real talk, and real learning.
Who This Workshop Is For
This workshop is a good fit if you are:
• Planning your first backyard flock.
• Bringing home chicks or chickens soon.
• Early in your chicken keeping journey.
• Hoping to avoid common beginner mistakes.
Please Note: If you’ve been keeping chickens for a long time, you may still find useful information here, but the focus is on beginners.
What to Expect
Interactive Learning
Explore lots of practical materials and get comfortable with the tools and supplies you’ll use with your flock.
A Comprehensive Chicken Keeping Guidebook
Take home a 100+ page guidebook packed with everything we cover in the workshop and more. No need to take notes!
A Comfortable Learning Environment
Padded chairs, temperature control, coffee, tea, bottled water, and snacks provided.
Personal Attention
Small class size (12 max) so you can ask questions and get guidance.
Ongoing Support
Access a private Facebook group after the workshop for follow-up questions.
What You’ll Learn in Feathered Fundamentals
Feathered Fundamentals covers everything a beginner chicken keeper needs to start raising chickens confidently. You’ll walk away with practical skills and a clear understanding of your birds’ needs – plus a 100+ page booklet to guide you every step of the way if you forget anything after you go home.
In this workshop, we’ll explore:
Bringing Home Your Birds
Choosing the right chickens for your space, lifestyle, and goals – including where to find healthy birds you can feel good about bringing home.
Raising Chicks
Everything you need to know from day-old fluff to confident young birds – brooder setup, heat, feeding, growth milestones, and what is and isn’t normal during those early weeks.
Raising Teenagers
The in-between stage from 8 to 20 weeks – managing changing needs while preparing your flock for coop life and adulthood.
Laying Hens & Roosters
Life after 20 weeks – what to expect as hens begin laying, how to care for adult birds, and understanding the role (and personality) of roosters in the flock.
Chicken Breeds
A look at common chicken breeds and what makes them unique – egg production, size, and climate suitability – so you can choose birds that fit your space and goals.
Chicken Behaviour
Learning how chickens communicate and behave – from pecking orders and dust baths to broody moods and flock dynamics, so you can tell normal chicken chaos from real problems.
Coop Considerations
Designing or choosing a chicken coop that keeps your flock safe, dry, and comfortable – space needs, ventilation, nesting boxes, predator protection, and common coop mistakes to avoid.
Introducing New Chickens
How to add birds to an existing flock without total mayhem – quarantine basics, slow introductions, and managing the inevitable drama when chicken math strikes.
Biosecurity Best Practices
Learn how to protect your flock from preventable disease through simple, practical habits – including quarantine protocols, dedicated chore gear, and smart management of visitors, equipment, and environmental risk.
Healthy Chickens
A practical, real-life guide to keeping your flock healthy – from simple preventative habits and knowing what “normal” looks like, to spotting early signs of common chicken health issues, and what to do when something seems off.
Common Chicken Health Issues
A practical look at the health problems backyard chicken keepers most commonly face – what they look like, what your next steps usually are, and when it’s time to call a vet. We will look at:
• Comb Injuries, Nail Injuries, Cuts, and Scrapes
• Respiratory Infections
• Bumblefoot
• Egg Binding
• Prolapse
• Salpingitis
• Impacted Crop
• Sour Crop
• Torticollis (Wry Neck)
• Neoplastic Diseases: Marek’s and Lymphoid Leukosis
• Parasites: Coccidiosis, Worms, Lice and Mites
• Seasonal Issues: Heat Stress and Frostbite
Your Chicken First Aid Kit
How to build a first aid kit so you’re prepared to handle minor issues quickly and confidently when they pop up.
Euthanasia
A compassionate guide to recognizing when it’s time to let a bird go, how to make that decision with confidence, and how to navigate the emotional weight that comes with being a responsible, caring flock keeper.
Financial Considerations
A realistic look at the costs of keeping chickens.
When & Where
Date
Sunday, July 26th
Time
11am to 4pm
Location
South Alton, Nova Scotia – 5 mins off the 101 at exit 13
(the civic address will be provided to students only)
Class Size
12 participants max
Introductory Pricing
I’m offering a special introductory rate for the first few workshops while I’m finding my wings. These early sessions give me a chance to fine-tune the experience, and your patience and enthusiasm as my first students means a lot to me.
Introductory Price: $50 to reserve your spot
(regular $75)
Ready to join Me?
Your seat (and a whole lot of chicken knowledge) is waiting for you.
If you’re ready to book a spot, you can register through the link below.
