From strawberries and kale to rosemary and nasturtium, the Campus Urban Farm is known for growing some of the freshest plants and produce at Dominguez Hills. And now, because of a few new arrivals, Toros can add eggs to that list. The Urban Farm recently debuted six Rhode Island Red hens, but the chickens’ journey to CSUDH involved a lot more than just helping them to cross the road.
Although the search for the chickens began in the fall of 2023, preparations for their arrival had been underway since the summer. The farm purchased a chicken coop, nesting beds, feed, and calcium supplements to help nourish the highly anticipated eggs. The farm even had the university’s Facilities Services department build an enclosure around the coop to protect the hens from any predators like coyotes. The structure included two reinforced doors, a six-foot-five-inch high fence, and an underground metal wire to ensure unwelcome visitors couldn’t burrow into the area beneath the coop.
The project was progressing nicely but eventually stalled due to competing projects at the farm. The farm resumed the search last month but encountered a few dead ends along the way.
“We called 30 places,” recalled Urban Farm manager Jose Avalos during an interview with The Bulletin. Avalos said vendors would only supply them with slaughtered chickens, but the team eventually found their chickens at John’s Feed and Pet Supplies in Huntington Park (a.k.a, John’s Feed 2). However, a bout of heavy rains at the beginning of the month postponed pickup for about a week until Feb. 6. According to Avalos, the chickens appeared to be in “rough” shape at the store.
“All the chickens were in no bigger than a two-foot cage,” he said. “We chose four from one cage and two from another that seemed in urgent need of rescue.” Now, it seems the hens couldn’t be happier than to be clucking and pecking around at Dominguez Hills. A fellowship of 25 college corps interns is on hand at the farm throughout the week to feed and take care of the chickens.
One intern, Majesty, enjoys tending to the chickens given their unique quirks.
“Each one has their own personalities and I love that about chickens,” Majesty said. “Sometimes they are sassy, playful and loving, which is what makes them special; they are like their own little persons.”
The hens have yet to lay any eggs but when they do, they’ll be available for Toros to get at Teddy’s Pantry located at the College of Education building (H-023). The pantry serves to support the basic food needs of students.
So could the arrival of the six Rhode Island Reds mean more livestock could make its way to the Urban Farm? Most likely not, Avalos explained, because it’s such a “slow and tedious process to acquire them.” Plus, there are limitations enforced by the university and the city of Carson.
“CSUDH will always be a great place for the chickens to live,” Avalos said. “As a farm, we are happy to have completed the lengthy task of obtaining them because it was much needed to ensure their lives are peaceful.”
