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Raising Chickens In The City

A chicken with a blurry backyard in the background
Scott Woods-Fehr via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Chicken

Poultry is very big business in Maryland, with huge industrial scale chicken houses covering the Eastern Shore. Poultry raising on that scale is a tad bit impersonal to say the least. At the other end of the scale—way on the other end—is the backyard hen house, an operation where the chicks are practically pets. And Chef Jerry Pellegrino, has looked into this idea.

First of all, it is legal. Having a small flock of chickens in your backyard is both fun and rewarding. During the laying season, which is quite long in Baltimore, four birds will produce about two dozen eggs per week! Getting a small safe coop and choosing the right breeds are crucial. Follow the links below for some great information.

DIY: Small Backyard Chicken Coop

Raising Chickens 101: Getting Started And What They Don't Tell You

The Top 18 Chicken Breeds For Your Backyard Flock

10 Breeds Of Chicken That Will Lay Lots Of Eggs For You

Al Spoler, well known to WYPR listeners as the wine-loving co-host of "Cellar Notes" has had a long-standing parallel interest in cooking as well. Al has said, the moment he started getting serious about Sunday night dinners was the same moment he started getting serious about wine. Over the years, he has benefited greatly from being a member of the Cork and Fork Society of Baltimore, a gentlemen's dining club that serves black tie meals cooked by the members themselves who are some of Baltimore's most accomplished amateur cooks.
Executive Chef Jerry Pellegrino of Corks restaurant is fascinated by food and wine, and the way they work in harmony on the palate. His understanding of the two goes all the way to the molecular level, drawing on his advanced education in molecular biology. His cuisine is simple and surprising, pairing unexpected ingredients together to work with Corks' extensive wine offerings.