ROCKLAND — Backyard chicken keeping in Maine is taking off, and Rockland’s Good Tern Co-op and Clement Hill and Fern Axelson of Fern Hill Farm are inviting the community to be part of it. Building on the success of past workshops, Fern Hill Farm, a small personal homestead in Thomaston, is proud to announce an updated free Backyard Chicken Keeping 101 class for 2026. Join Hill and Axelson at Hole In The Wall Bagels, 754 Main St. in Rockland, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15. This class is designed to empower new and aspiring chicken keepers with the confidence, tools and knowledge to raise chickens responsibly.
This year’s class reflects an important and exciting statewide change. In 2025 Maine passed An Act to Allow the Keeping of Chickens on Private Residential Property, establishing a baseline right for residents to keep chickens. Under this law, homeowners are allowed to keep a flock of hens on private residential property, even in zoning districts where chickens were previously prohibited. Municipalities may still regulate chickens and their housing for health, safety and nuisance concerns, but they may no longer impose a complete ban on keeping a small backyard flock.
“This is great,” said Hill, “This law doesn’t erase all local regulations on keeping chickens, but it does clearly open the door anywhere it had been closed in some zonings and towns. If you’ve been waiting for a green light, this is it.” It was a clarifying law to support Maine’s Right to Food constitutional amendment, a step that shows just how much local food production matters. And chickens are an approachable way to participate.
Topics covered include:
- Choosing breeds suited to Maine’s climate and one’s personal goals
- Realistic expectations with costs, time commitments, and common surprises/problems
- Coop planning, predator protection, and basic biosecurity
- Seasonal care and health basics
- Understanding and navigating local town codes, and how state laws interact with them
Fern Hill Farm’s views are grounded in honesty and enthusiasm. Chickens are often easier than expected, but they are not effortless. They require daily care, resilience through all seasons, and a willingness to learn through experience. For those who stick with it, the rewards are significant: fresh eggs, reduced food waste, garden compost, tick control, and the daily joy of tending a flock of “personality-rich mini-dinosaurs,” as Fern puts it.
“We originally started keeping chickens to reduce ticks for our dog,” Fern shares. “But they quickly became central to our life, connecting to our gardens, food, community, and a sense of self-reliance. It’s one of the most accessible and fun ways to build community food resilience right in your backyard.”
This free 2026 class aims to meet people where they’re at: renters hopeful for the future, homeowners newly empowered by the law changes, and anyone ready to explore a long-lived curiosity. Whether you’re chicken-curious or actively planning your first flock, this talk is a supportive place to start and meet others in the same position.
Good Tern Co-op is a member-owned health and food store committed to providing local and healthy food options for the Midcoast Maine community. For updates or questions, contact Good Tern Co-op at community.goodtern@coop or follow along on social media through The Good Tern Co-op.