Keep in mind Cold Antler Farm

Backyard Livestock 101

http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/2012/12/announcing-backyard-livestock-101.html?m=1

"Come knowing little and leave with a lighter heart, a starter flock, a book, and a day spent with fellow new farmers on a beautiful spring day!"

"And if you are ready to add that flock of chickens and rabbit hutch: you will get the inspiration and community push you have been craving. Heck, you can get the chickens too.."

"We're going to focus on chickens in the morning, and everyone who attends is welcome to pick three from a brooder of heritage chicks, all will be dual-purpose heavy breeds for eggs and meat production. You'll get a copy of my book, Chick Days, as well. It's a complete beginner's guide to raising layers for the backyard, but will also help you get your dual purpose flock off the ground. We will discuss brooders, coops, predators, feed and care."

It takes more than 7 hours of education, a book, and 3 chickens to successfully (and lawfully) raise chickens...or run a workshop.

NY law states:
*specifically 1 and 3

354. Sale of baby chicks and baby rabbits

1. No person shall sell, offer for sale, barter or give away living baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl or baby rabbits unless such person provides proper brooder facilities where appropriate for the care of such baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl or baby rabbits during the time they are in the possession of such person. For the purposes of this section, a baby rabbit shall be a rabbit of less than two months of age.

2. No person shall sell, offer for sale, barter or display living baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl or baby rabbits which have been dyed, colored or otherwise treated so as to impart to them an artificial color. 2-a. No provision of subdivision two shall be interpreted or applied to prevent or restrict teachers and qualified instructors of youth under the guidance and supervision of the New York state cooperative extension service from using eggs for non-profit educational purposes or from observing fowl hatched from such eggs for non-profit educational purposes.

3. No person shall sell, offer for sale, barter or give away living baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl or baby rabbits under two months of age in any quantity less than six.

4. A violation of the provisions of this section is a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or by both.

Citation: NY AGRI & MKTS §§ 331 - 379; NY PENAL LAW § 130.20

Citation: McKinney's Agriculture and Markets Law § 331 - 379; McKinney's Penal Law § 130.20

What does this mean for Jenna Woginrich and Cold Antler Farm?

- Each workshop attendee who decides to leave with day old chicks (chicks delivered on 5/9 are days old... workshop is scheduled for 5/11) must take no less than 6.  This workshop offers 3 chicks with the $125 fee...perhaps the additional (required by law) 3 are available for an additional fee?  Not sure, but 3 chicks doesnt make the cut according to NY state law.

-Additionally, attendees must have access to a proper brooder if taking (a minimum of 6) chicks under 2 months of age into their possession.  This law ensures adequate facilities are in place to care for birds during these first 2 months of age. More than an outside coop is needed for these fragile youngsters...a temperature controlled  brooder (more than likely enclosed to provide protection from predators...be it the domestic house pet or wild hunter) is step 1....live chick?...step 2.

Why not offer brooder building/coop construction skills in Livestock 101? Livestock 102 would include LIVEstock...you know, once proper facilities are in place?  

- have not read a reference to local (town/county etc) codes or zoning ordinances in advertising workshops...and while not required to attend is surely worth calling your local town hall or county government about before bringing home poultry or building a coop. as a zoning enforcement official I had to field complaints about the rooster within town limits (against town code) or the coop built too close to a neighbors property (not within setbacks required by zoning ordinance). Fyi...codes and ordinances are living documents subject to change at anytime.  So don't be discouraged...be  encouraged!  with a thought out well presented case, changes can (and are!) made!

Giving a workshop on keeping and caring for hens (from days after hatch to laying) is wonderful (though rather costly in this case) and encouraged but give people the questions to ask and the right tools take make poultry ownership a positive and fruitfull experience (for both individual and chicks) as well as quality financial investment.