Louisville Magazine

NOV 2012

Louisville Magazine is Louisville's city magazine, covering Louisville people, lifestyles, politics, sports, restaurants, entertainment and homes. Includes a monthly calendar of events.

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saint Matthews "The neighbors call it the Chicken Hilton," says Lisa Soler of her custom-built St. Matthews coop. It is fully digital electric, with timed heat lamps and a radio tuned to WFPK. Soler got the birds for the valuable lessons she knew her nieces and nephew would glean from being around the ani- mals. "When I was growing up in Puerto Rico, my grandfather had chickens, and it was a great experience to see where our food comes from," she says. "I didn't want their generation to miss out on that." Lisa Soler's nieces feed her Leghorn named Chicklett; (top) Soler's fully digital coop. You're not alone, says Steve Paradis of Fresh Start Growers' Supply (1007 E. Jefferson St., 442-7883), who estimates from his business that there are probably more than 1,000 people XJUI DIJDLFOT JO UIF DJUZ i5IFZ SF MJLF QFUT XJUI CFOFmUT w says Paradis. He encourages investigation and preparation. "It's like having a baby — you need to prepare. Plan your habitat and research," he says. There are even several magazines and books devoted to the subject of backyard poultry. Paradis recommends City Chicks, by Patricia Foreman (which gives new meaning to the phrase "chick lit"). Paradis says chickens' basic needs include a coop and a run. For size, a rule of thumb is two square feet per chicken in a coop and 8-10 square feet per chicken for a run — the MBUUFS B OFDFTTJUZ JG UIF DIJDLFOT BSF HPJOH UP CF DPOmOFE The store owner carries coops made from local cedar. Many people build their own, but as Paradis points out, they must be properly designed to protect the chickens from the ele- ments and predators. Hawks are a main concern for city poultry, along with raccoons, possums and aggressive dogs. A balanced diet, along with grit (for digestion), is important as well. Fresh Start hosts ongoing classes on the subject of backyard poultry that will pick up in the spring. "We'll also have several batches of chicks then that come from a local farmer," says Paradis. 11.12 LOUISVILLE MAGAZINE [55]

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