Cluck Trek: Environmental group sponsors chicken-coop tour

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Thinking about getting chickens but aren’t sure where to start? On Saturday, Environmental Change-Makers, a group based in Westchester, sponsors its first Cluck Trek, a self-guided tour of four backyard chicken coops.

Maps of the chicken-coop locations will be available on a table on the front lawn of the Church of the Holy Nativity from 9 to 9:30 Saturday morning. Most of the coops are within walking or biking distance of the church, and attendees are encouraged to contribute to a potluck lunch to be enjoyed on the final stop of the tour. A tour donation of $5 or $10 is suggested.

The Rev. Peter Rood (pictured), rector of the church and a founder of Environmental Change-Makers, promises there’s nothing religious about the event. ‘I had to work hard to convince people that I’m not going to woo them when they come here and take out my Bible. There’s none of that,’ he said.

Instead, the idea for the trek stemmed from the poultry experiences of other members of Environmental Change-Makers, which meets monthly at the church. ‘At the beginning of every meeting, we talk about what we’re doing to make a positive impact, and lately people started saying, ‘I did it. I got some chickens,’ ‘ Rood said. ‘It used to be about the new baby, now it’s about the new baby chicks.’

Thinking others might like to see what chicken rearing in the city looks like, members came up with Cluck Trek.

The Church of the Holy Nativity is at 6700 W. 83rd St., Westchester. For more information, see the Change-Makers’ calendar of events.

-- Deborah Netburn