The First Flock: Chickens at the White House
The White House has been in the news lately, stirring excitement among gardeners and beekeepers worldwide. On the first day of spring, the First Lady Michelle Obama broke ground for a 1,100 square foot fruit and vegetable garden on the south lawn of the White House. She was assisted by a group of local 5th graders, which highlights her interest in food and nutrition education. Also, it was recently announced that the White House now has it's first bee hive, which will help to pollinate the garden and highlight the important role of pollinators in food production.
Will we soon see a flock of chickens roaming the White House lawn? Well, it's really up to the Obama's and the White House staff to decide (they may have no interest in chicken keeping), but here are some of the positives from keeping a flock at the White House (or any household):
- The fresh eggs would be a great compliment to the vegetables, fruits and honey being produced at the White House garden.
- The chicken manure could be composted and used to fertilize the garden and surrounding trees.
- Chickens are small, making them a good choice for home protien production. Therefore, only a small area of the White House lawn would be needed for a coop and run.
- The chickens could serve as an alternative pet to the Obama children, while further connecting them to the food they eat.
- Chickens would only further the example being set at the White House about the importance of household food production, proper nutrition, and food education.
Whether chickens end up at the White House garden or not, I am very pleased about the new fruit and vegetable garden. The bee hive is an added bonus!
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Re: The First Flock: Chickens at the White House
Greetings!
My name is Joseph Marquette, SPPA memebr and co-owner of Yellow House Farm (www.yellowhousefarmnh.com), a farm focusing on foundational heritage breeds, in Barrington, NH. We have written First Lady Michelle Obama to offer a small flock of White Dorkings, the first breed to cross with the pilgrims. We have partnered up with Christine Heinrichs, also member SPPA ( http://poultrybookstore.com), poulltry author who is willing to offer copies of her book HOW TO RAISE CHICKENS. We are joined by Dennis Harrison-Noonan, a coop builder in Wisconsin who had offered to custom build a coop for the White House, as well as by Kevin Fletcher of Organic Poultry Feeds, www.countrysidenatural.com, who has offered one year's supply of organic grain to feed their new flock.
Our customer and friend Chris Ouellette has opened a facebook page "Chickens at the White House" that contains a letter of petition written by Christine Heinrichs, asking the Obamas to accept our gifts to their honorable homestead. The letter is easy to cut-and-paste and the link is given to the White House homepage for contact information.
Please feel free to pormote this via your organization. We have the package ready, all we need know is the "yes"!
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, Joseph Marquette, at (603) 335-6131.
Cheers!
Re: The First Flock: Chickens at the White House
Thanks for the info! Keep us posted.
Re: The First Flock: Chickens at the White House
It would be great for the White House to have a first flock but unfortunately it is illegal to keep chickens in Washington DC.
Re: The First Flock: Chickens at the White House
I bet the president could find a way to have chickens at the White House--DC law or not.
I'd be surprised if he bothered, but . . .
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Re: The First Flock: Chickens at the White House
I want to see which DC cop is going to march through the secret service and try to arrest the president
Re: The First Flock: Chickens at the White House
I found on this site
http://www.clevelandseniors.com/family/petprez.htm
that:
WOODROW WILSON
1913-1921
Like James Madison, Wilson used sheep to cut down on landscaping costs. He had one special old ram by the name of Old Ike that liked to chew tobacco. He also had other barnyard animals, such as chickens and goats.
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It would be interesting to see what kind and where the coop was. Of course the White House has been renovated since that time period.
Re: The First Flock: Chickens at the White House
WOW! I didn't know this at all. (I'm from Australia)... sounds like a great idea. We have rain water tanks, chickens and a vege garden, and still planning the fruit trees. All in suburbia. It is amazing what you can do with a small amount of space!
Re: The First Flock: Chickens at the White House
I think this is a great idea I do know that some properties in the DC area have the keeping of livestock "grandfathered" in. I bet the white house is one of them. Chickens are great I use a movable coop which keeps the smell down and the chickens healthy. They are very interesting and easy to care for. I love having chickens in my suburban backyard. Check you www.backyardchickens.com for more information about keeping chickens in your area.
Henry
Re: The First Flock: Chickens at the White House
It is amazing what you can do with a small amount of space!
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Re: The First Flock: Chickens at the White House
such as chickens and goats.
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Re: The First Flock: Chickens at the White House
I want to see which DC cop is going to march through the secret service and try to arrest the president
Re: The First Flock: Chickens at the White House
I think it is very exciting that the White House are taking initiatives to help the environment by bringing in the bee hives and vegetable patch for more self sufficiency. This is also an excellent way to educate children. The Obama girls truly are benefitting from a wonderful upbringing because they have the opportunity to connect with the rural way of life which seems so much more human than the suits and ties that the rest of DC are accustomed to.
I wish the White House many years of enjoyment with their new flock. And might I suggest a funky chicken coop for the new flock? There are lovely ones here: http://www.poshchicks.co.uk
I quite like the green house, as it has a fantastic country feel to it.
May we all follow the examples set by the First Family!
Re: The First Flock: Chickens at the White House
So did they accept the petition and the gifts? It would be good to hear how the Obamas are getting on with their Chickens and who looks after them etc.
Great read - Many thanks for this blog:
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Re: The First Flock: Chickens at the White House
Good on you mate!
We keep veggies and fruit trees and make our on jams and jellies. We also have urban foxes who use the railway at the end of the garden as a run so no urban chickens for us.
It would be great to see some at the Whitehouse, maybe we will see some at No 10 here in the Uk but the resident cat might not approve.
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Re: The First Flock: Chickens at the White House
What a great way to go organic and eat healthy. Too bad I can't do that living in a building.
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Re: The First Flock: Chickens at the White House
this is so great to see a garden at the white house. The house seems so real now. I am glad to see it.
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Re: The First Flock: Chickens at the White House
It's been great to see the whitehouse garden used for something useful - other than garden parties. They're setting an example to the rest of us. Now I just need to persuade my neighbours that a cockerell and some hens will not cause them any disturbance - some hope.
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Re: The First Flock: Chickens at the White House
It's beyond amazing! I never realized the many benefits you could have from keeping your own chickens (besides some fresh egges of course). I think it would be great to see them take this on, as well. Maybe it would spark a renewed interest around the country. dress up games