A History of MRH Chickens
The Chicken project originated in the St. Augustine School in the Bronx when Superintendent Dr. Linda Henke took a team of staff and students to a conference. There in St. Augustine, Henke’s team discovered a small school with an unusual project––chickens. Henke’s team was inspired by the exotic chickens that represented a different type of sustainability. Henke brought the idea of chickens back to our school. That fall, MRH got its first flock of chickens.
Adding new animals to school requires care for the animals. And who better to take care of a bunch of urban chickens than some urban teenagers? A newsletter was quickly sent to the MRHHS with word of a new job: loving and caring for a few urban chicks. A team of five students was created, and they were called "Chicken Stewards."
After a few short months, the stewards were called in for a meeting with the mother hen, Dr. Henke. Together, we discussed how things were going in the coop. We all had a lot of questions about how to take good care of these chickens, and somehow, the idea of creating a guide book was hatched.
Once everyone was on board, we all sat down and began to create a master team. We wanted the best of the best to help us create our guide. We thought about who in our school could help us reach the highest success. We needed artists, writers, designers, and thinkers. We called this group "The Chickenologists."
We began researching the huge mountain of information that is out there about keeping urban chickens. We were determined to get our guide finished even if it meant meeting on weekends and over breaks. A year and half later, through much blood, sweat, and tears, we produced our guide, Chickenology: The Art and Science of Keeping Chickens.
The Chickenologists played a big role in helping to introduce a new flock of chickens to our elementary school. Our new feathery friends wouldn’t be taken care of by our Chickenologists though; instead, a few families would be caring for the chickens. The Chickenologists assisted the families by holding a chicken class to teach the new caregivers the fundamentals.
The major project for the 2011-2012 year was creating this website to help connect urban chicken keepers in our community. During the 2012-2013 year, we are aiming to complete our three-year goal of supporting fifty families in our school district who want to keep urban chickens. The Chickenologists will also be holding chicken mixers for chicken lovers. The Chickenologists are currently available for individual consultation, workshops, and formal presentations.
Adding new animals to school requires care for the animals. And who better to take care of a bunch of urban chickens than some urban teenagers? A newsletter was quickly sent to the MRHHS with word of a new job: loving and caring for a few urban chicks. A team of five students was created, and they were called "Chicken Stewards."
After a few short months, the stewards were called in for a meeting with the mother hen, Dr. Henke. Together, we discussed how things were going in the coop. We all had a lot of questions about how to take good care of these chickens, and somehow, the idea of creating a guide book was hatched.
Once everyone was on board, we all sat down and began to create a master team. We wanted the best of the best to help us create our guide. We thought about who in our school could help us reach the highest success. We needed artists, writers, designers, and thinkers. We called this group "The Chickenologists."
We began researching the huge mountain of information that is out there about keeping urban chickens. We were determined to get our guide finished even if it meant meeting on weekends and over breaks. A year and half later, through much blood, sweat, and tears, we produced our guide, Chickenology: The Art and Science of Keeping Chickens.
The Chickenologists played a big role in helping to introduce a new flock of chickens to our elementary school. Our new feathery friends wouldn’t be taken care of by our Chickenologists though; instead, a few families would be caring for the chickens. The Chickenologists assisted the families by holding a chicken class to teach the new caregivers the fundamentals.
The major project for the 2011-2012 year was creating this website to help connect urban chicken keepers in our community. During the 2012-2013 year, we are aiming to complete our three-year goal of supporting fifty families in our school district who want to keep urban chickens. The Chickenologists will also be holding chicken mixers for chicken lovers. The Chickenologists are currently available for individual consultation, workshops, and formal presentations.
- Kailia Nong, Alpha Chicken