Adopt-a-Chicken: Nonprofit seeks sponsors for feathered friends

Love the idea of raising chickens but don't have a yard? The Los Angeles nonprofit Taking the Reins has launched a clever fundraiser called Adopt-a-Chicken with you in mind. Sponsor a chicken such as Thumper, above, and you won't have to deal with her pecking, digging or fertilizing your backyard.

Pick your chick and make a donation of at least $50 in its name, and you get an adoption certificate. Donate at least $100 and you also get a color portrait of your new feathered family member. 

Donations go toward Taking the Reins' programs that seek to empower adolescent girls, originally by teaching them to ride and care for horses. "Over the years the program has evolved," board member Jane Stenehjem said. "There is now a writing program, creative arts, equine science, and we have an organic garden on a 2.5-acre farm near the Los Angeles River."

Adopt-a-Chicken is meant to be a quirky fundraiser: What to get that friend who has everything? "You can say you adopted a chicken and donated money to a program that allows girls the opportunity to care for them," Stenehjem said.  

Nine chickens are available for adoption. Shadow Gal is sensitive, shy and mysterious. Roberta, below left, is a devoted mother and voracious eater of worms. Sayu is a social butterfly, and Soul, below right, is the showoff. Rockie also is known as the Big Bomber because of her big comb. Suzie can perform tricks, Fiona is curious, and Thumper, above, lays eggs "anywhere and everywhere." Laila is shy and often bullied by the others — something that has endeared her to the Taking the Reins girls, who named the chickens.

To participate in the Adopt-a-Chicken program, call (323) 906-1506.

    

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Photos: Some of the chickens available for adoption. Credit: Christofer Dierdorff