Spring chickens, March Break at the library

We have lots to “cluck” about at the Clearview Public Library over the March Break.

Did you know that residents of Clearview Township can now keep up to four chickens to lay eggs for their personal use in their backyard? The idea sounds great. In fact, I can’t think of anything nicer than eating a piping hot omelet made from eggs gathered right out of my own coop and spinach freshly plucked from my own garden but it is not quite as simple as this sounds.

Jennifer La Chapelle and Betsy Wright will be talking about the best way to manage your henhouse in the Creemore Branch at 11 a.m. on March 11 and 18. These free talks, offering plenty of practical advice, will describe the benefits of having chickens as Pets (March 11) and chickens as Layers (March 18). We will also have the information about the process, requirements and fees associated with the keeping of backyard chickens plus the listings of local resources and suppliers for “all things chicken” available at this time too.

Cookbooks featuring chicken and egg recipes will be on display as well as being included for sale in our “eggstraordinary” Book Sale that will run for the week in the Stayner branch from March 11-18. Feather your nest with a box of books for just $2.

There will be plenty of “fowl activity” each day for every member of your family but there are two special events to mark on your calendar. On Wednesday, March 15, Elaine Hamerton will be featuring fun with rubber chickens and plastic eggs at 1 p.m. in our Family Minute to Win It Game. On Thursday, March 16, I will be co-hosting a formal session of arts and crafts with Elephant Thoughts and other special artistic guests at 11 a.m. At this time, we will also be creating a giant chicken made out of handprints and feathers to showcase at our library outreach booth at the Health and Leisure Expo on Saturday, March 25.

Do you know a beautiful chicken? If so, please drop a picture or photograph off at the circulation desk for exhibition purposes on the library foyer wall.

We would love to showcase the variety of chicken breeds in Clearview Township and to promote the safe and clean process of raising Backyard Chickens in Creemore.

Now about growing spinach…