The Kiddie Science Lab officially has a chicken coop! Thanks to the incredible support of individuals just like you, we're able to move forward with our plan to care for hens. The goal is to have two chickens the first year and use that time to engage our young scientists in behavior observations, care and feeding, and comparing bird anatomy to that of mammals (humans specifically). We're very excited for this opportunity to expose our young scientists to such a unique experience.
We are continually working to secure funding that allows us to develop and implement programming to help connect young children with the natural world around them. Your support makes this, and more, possible. Thank you!
Long term, our goal is to expand the size of the coop in order to house a total of four hens.
We are continually working to secure funding that allows us to develop and implement programming to help connect young children with the natural world around them. Your support makes this, and more, possible. Thank you!
Long term, our goal is to expand the size of the coop in order to house a total of four hens.
Caring for chickens in Brooklyn brings some challenges that we needed to address before moving forward. First, the weather. We have cold winters and the snow accumulation has been significant in recent years. We also have hot summers, with increased heat waves. Although the chicken breed we're getting will be accustomed to to temperature variations (and we'll insulate the coop a bit in the winter), extreme weather will certainly be an issue. In the case of bitter cold, blizzards, hurricanes, extreme heat, or other similar weather conditions, the chickens will be able to hunker down in our basement until it's safe for them to be outdoors.
Our second challenge is the wildlife. We have squirrels, cats, and raccoons, all of whom will be greatly interested interested in our chickens. To address this, the next phase is to build a foundation with a 6-inch wire trench to proactively address burrowing wildlife. The foundation will also provide a buffer between the coop and the bare ground, as it will be comprised of cinder blocks and pressure treated wood.
The last challenge was pretty easy to solve. Exposed to the elements, the coop will be greatly affected by moisture. To maintain the coop, we're following the manufacturer's recommendation and we've weatherproofed it using a transparent seal. Applying a new coat annually should help the coop last a good long time.
We look forward to sharing next steps with you! Stay tuned!
Our second challenge is the wildlife. We have squirrels, cats, and raccoons, all of whom will be greatly interested interested in our chickens. To address this, the next phase is to build a foundation with a 6-inch wire trench to proactively address burrowing wildlife. The foundation will also provide a buffer between the coop and the bare ground, as it will be comprised of cinder blocks and pressure treated wood.
The last challenge was pretty easy to solve. Exposed to the elements, the coop will be greatly affected by moisture. To maintain the coop, we're following the manufacturer's recommendation and we've weatherproofed it using a transparent seal. Applying a new coat annually should help the coop last a good long time.
We look forward to sharing next steps with you! Stay tuned!