Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[Harborview Hens]

Irene, Gaetano farms is in Bethany.
She is my guru. She is here as BethG, but I'm not too sure how often she is on BYC.
If you can't get ahold of her, PM me, I can e-mail her.

Thanks....that is good to know especially for my son. Although he is a physician, he is a farmer/builder at heart. He got his love of animals from me. I have five sons, so we had a menagerie going from birds, to reptiles, hedgehogs and tarantulas when they were growing up.

You should see the coops, incubators etc. that he builds. His children love the chickens and enjoy helping their dad. Knowing someone reputable is always the best thing! Would love to have her info for him.

Many Thanks!

 

[magsrags]

Caleb!! Welcome back! Now we need to find Rosie.

Big show in Springfield this weekend. I can't wait. But I think I'm going to stop crocheting at 50 chicks. I have so many other projects I want to get started on...

Suzanne, where is Rosie??? I'd asked a few weeks back and no-one replied. Not like her.............

 

[lichick28]

Wont the finches fly into the glass? How will they perch, branches? I have a 50 gal in shed. Maybe I will put chicks in it. I think I am going to start mid. Feb to hatch out some babes. Tell hubby people are already asking for yr babes to prepare him.

 

[magsrags]

Wont the finches fly into the glass? How will they perch, branches? I have a 50 gal in shed. Maybe I will put chicks in it. I think I am going to start mid. Feb to hatch out some babes. Tell hubby people are already asking for yr babes to prepare him.

They don't fly into the glass for perches and bamboo nesting boxes. They thrive to the point he gives them away because of the populatipon explosion.
They like a longer tank rather than a tall one.


with all the work being done here right now we have no spare space....counter top.....shed or otherwise even for 1 incubator......I am no longer in control.LOL.....

 

[magsrags]

They don't fly into the glass for perches and bamboo nesting boxes. They thrive to the point he gives them away because of the populatipon explosion.
They like a longer tank rather than a tall one.


with all the work being done here right now we have no spare space....counter top.....shed or otherwise even for 1 incubator......I am no longer in control.LOL.....

Sorry. I wanted to say he used branches for perches.......

 

[Carolyn252]

Hello you all.
I'm on the mailing list of the Cornell Cooperative Extension's SmallFarmsProgram and received their December 20, 2012 emailed news report. After reading the report, I emailed an inquiry to them and got some interesting responses. I've pasted it all here for you to see. I'm crazy busy right now with a bunch of stuff going on here at home, so I don't know when I'll follow up on this. I'm sharing it all with you so you too, can join in on this and maybe shake things up vis-a-vis the various municipal codes about keeping backyard chickens in these Southern NY counties.

I should also mention that about two months ago, I was driving along on Merrick Avenue in East Meadow (that's in Nassau County) and spotted what looked like a farmstand, so I pulled into the parking lot and went inside. Turned out it was the new home of a Cornell Cooperative Extension office. Very nice guys staffing the office. Lots of brochures and posters and flyers. I talked with two of the agents there and told them that there were lots of chickenkeepers here on Long Island. I remembered that Roberta [a/k/a stoopid, a/k/a chickenfairygodmother] had suggested a meeting some time ago ( I no longer remember the agenda ), and the agent said that we were welcome to use their place. It was a classroom sized room, maybe five or six long folding tables. Nothing fancy, but very serviceable.

Anyway, read on for the News Report, and then the email conversations that followed:

THE NEWS REPORT
-----Original Message-----
From: Violet Stone <[email protected]>
To: SFPCONTACTS-L <[email protected]>; SFPRESS-L <[email protected]>
Sent: Thu, Dec 20, 2012 10:33 am
Subject: Just Released! Priorities to Enhance Viability of New York's Small Farms
The Cornell Small Farms Program is very pleased to announce the release of the "2012 Recommendations for Strategic Investments in New York's Small Farms." Download the full report and access supplemental materials at: http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/projects/summit/

This colorful report details the top priorities for enhancing the viability of small farms in New York. We thank the 580 farmers, educators, and advocates around the state who participated in our initial online survey to rank emerging small farm opportunities. We applaud the efforts of the 150 participants of the NY Small Farm Summit (February 2012) who worked together to identify specific actions for advancing these opportunities over the next 5 years. This report highlights the top eight priorities and provides concise justifications, suggested actions and relevant resources for each.

Recommendations in the report are intended for anyone interested in supporting the long term viability of New York's small farm sector. This includes farmers, educators, researchers, policy makers, producer and non-profit organizations, economic development planners, agricultural service providers, supporting businesses, community groups and local food advocates. The report can be used in any number of ways -- to justify grant proposals, promote rural economic development, stimulate farmer discussion, influence policy-makers or target investment to support the viability of small farms.

We encourage you to share the report with your neighbors, community members and colleagues and take action where appropriate. Supplementary information, including the full ranked list of the 16 priorities, additional justifications and recommendations for each priority, videos from the NY Small Farms Summit, and survey results summarized by region, is available at http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/projects/summit/

Questions about the report may be directed to Anu Rangarajan, the Director of the Cornell Small Farms Program ([email protected]) or the Small Farms Program Office at 607-255-9227 or [email protected].

Best Wishes for a Happy New Year from the Cornell Small Farm Program.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe | To Unsubscribe from this e-list, send an email to [email protected] and write "unsubscribe" in the subject. Please remember to state the address with which you originally subscribed.
----------------
Violet Stone
Cornell Small Farms Program
NY SARE Coordinator
607-255-9227
[email protected]
www.smallfarms.cornell.edu
www.nebeginningfarmers.org
www.nesare.org

Cornell Small Farms Program is now on Facebook! "Like" us on Facebook to see news and events pop up in your newsfeed!
***********************************************************
MY EMAIL TO VIOLET STONE:
From: Carolyn252 [[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 11:42 AM
To: Violet Stone
Subject: Re: Just Released! Priorities to Enhance Viability of New York's Small Farms
Good morning.

I'm hardly a small farm; but I'm nevertheless interested in New York State's encouraging the keeping of livestock, because I keep a small flock of four laying hens.

I live in the incorporated village of Freeport; it's a large suburban community on Long Island, in New York's Nassau County.

Freeport's municipal code allows for a maximum of two female chickens per household.

I've gone before the Freeport Village Board in both private and public session, asking that the code be changed to allow an increase in the permitted number of hens. I've submitted written documentation to support my claims of the usefulness, benefits, and modes of healthy management for the keeping of backyard chickens. But my requests have been ignored and the code has not been changed.

I'm grateful that the local authorities have not taken any action against me and I've continued keeping a few more hens than the code allows. However, Village elections are coming and if the positions of Mayor and the Board should be taken over by less accommodating people, my flock may be threatened.

Does Cornell have any reports or articles or recommendations that address this issue? Anything that I can submit to the municipal authorities that may encourage them to favorably change the code?

As you no doubt are well aware, backyard chickenkeeping is a fast growing activity and the entire State of New York is heavily populated with enthusiasts, most of whom face similar issues of code restrictions and/or outright bans.

May I respectfully request that Cornell undertake this problem as a major project in the upcoming year? It would be wonderful if there was a cultural shift throughout New York's governmental offices and agencies in forward thinking, benevolent legislation encouraging backyard flocks.

Reports, advisories, statistics, brochures, flyers, speakers, etc., produced by Cornell would have a significant impact in producing such a shift.

Thank you.
-Carolyn Hecht
************************************
VIOLET STONE'S REPLY TO ME
-----Original Message-----
From: Violet Stone <[email protected]>
To: Carolyn252 <[email protected]>
Sent: Tue, Jan 15, 2013 3:44 pm

Hi Carolyn,

I suggest you network with the group of small farm activists forming out your way to try and influence local politicians. Have you heard of the Long Island Small Farm Summit? Several organizations collaborated to put the event on the previous two years. One organizer was Lawrence Foglia [[email protected]] and I encourage you to reach out to him to get connected. You can learn more about this movement at http://longislandsmallfarmcentral.com/
----------------
Violet Stone
Cornell Small Farms Program
NY SARE Coordinator
607-255-9227
[email protected]

www.smallfarms.cornell.edu
www.nebeginningfarmers.org
www.nesare.org

Cornell Small Farms Program is now on Facebook! "Like" us on Facebook to see news and events pop up in your newsfeed!
*******************************
MY EMAIL TO LAWRENCE FOLIA
Subject: I live on Long Island and I keep chickens. I have a question for you.
At 5:31 PM 1/15/13, Carolyn252 wrote:
Hello Lawrence Folia,

I received an email today from Violet Stone of Cornell and she suggested that I contact you.

Please read my 12/20/2012 email to her, and Violet's response which I received today.

Both emails can be seen if you scroll down towards the bottom of this page.

If you can give me any advice or guidance in my quest to change the Village of Freeport's municipal code concerning the maximum number of chickens allowed, I'd appreciate receiving any and all suggestions.

Yours,

Carolyn Hecht
********************************
LAWRENCE FOGLIA'S REPLY TO ME
Subject: Re: I live on Long Island and I keep chickens. I have a question for you.
From Larry Foglia [email protected]
To [email protected], LFoglia [email protected]
Cc Jen Murray [email protected]
Laura Hunsberger NCCCE [email protected]
Meghan Weber [email protected]
Sent Tue, Jan 15, 2013 10:03 pm

Carolyn,
I will make a few quick suggestions and give you a few contacts. I have copied Jen Murray (Jen's Hens) who was instrumental in getting Huntington to change its chicken policy. Perhaps she can give you a bit of advice. I am also copying Laura Hunsberger, new E.D. of Nassau County Cornell Cooperative Extension based in both Jericho and on the farm in East Meadow. Perhaps NCCCE can become an advocate for chicken-keepers and local laws to allow it. You can sometimes get more information from Cornell for homeowner scale issues through your local CCE office than through the small farm program.

You might also venture up to Crossroads Farm (Formerly Grossmanns') in Malverne. I will copy Meghan Weber from the farmstand there in this email as well. There is a local group that is working on setting up a chicken operation there. Perhaps you can band (or flock) together, educate and lobby appropriate people. It would be good to work directly with NC legislators to see if you can get them to make a policy statement in favor of chickens. The Nassau Land Trust operates Crossroads Farm but it is owned by Nassau County.

Keep me in the loop..

Sincerely,
Larry Foglia
Fox Hollow Farm, Inc.
Mobile: 516-316-5538

 

[smkchick]

Suzanne, where is Rosie??? I'd asked a few weeks back and no-one replied. Not like her.............

Maggie, I've been worried about her. I've tried texting her and leaving phone messages, but nothing. I don't want to be a pest, but she's completely dropped out of sight.

 

[smkchick]

Carolyn, great info!

So many people I know are into small farming/chickens, etc. With all the negatives in large scale farming, small local farms should be encouraged in every community.

Bobby was talking about using our small garden space to put up a greenhouse so we could have a longer growing season. And a small farm near my cousin's house is for sale. She's always wanted to be a small farmer. I told her I'd do the chicken area!

 

[stoopid]

Wow, Carolyn. You can sure write a good letter!
BTW, your girls are doing great, and getting big.
But one of the EEs hasn't grown the fluffy cheek feathers.
I can switch her out if it bothers you. She's a darling anyways.
Over the past week, they have taught themselves to go up into the coop at night.
YES! Good girls. This is the first bunch I haven't had to chase them for weeks to figure it out.
I'll try to get pictures, but have been a little (LOT) busy with the show this weekend.
Definitely next week.

 

[Carolyn252]

Wow, Carolyn. You can sure write a good letter!
BTW, your girls are doing great, and getting big.
But one of the EEs hasn't grown the fluffy cheek feathers.
I can switch her out if it bothers you. She's a darling anyways.
Over the past week, they have taught themselves to go up into the coop at night.
YES! Good girls. This is the first bunch I haven't had to chase them for weeks to figure it out.
I'll try to get pictures, but have been a little (LOT) busy with the show this weekend.
Definitely next week.

Thanks, Roberta. Lack of cheek feathers is a non-issue for me. I'll take her and enjoy her just as she is. (Whisper "blue eggs" to her and her pal every now and then.) Have fun with all the work involved in going to this weekend's show. Hope the whole adventure turns out to be a wonderfully successful event for you. And that you come home to as many critters alive and well as were there before you left.