P.E.I. woman breeds heritage chickens
Sarah MacMillan | CBC News | Posted: October 16, 2016 4:05 PM | Last Updated: October 16, 2016
Rebecca Cowans started her backyard business to meet local demands
What started as a search for a hairless family pet has turned into a business opportunity for a woman in Oyster Bed Bridge.
Dozens of chickens roam Rebecca Cowans' backyard. Cowans bought her first rooster two and a half years ago. Her son has a fur allergy, but he wanted a pet. So, instead of a cat or a dog, the family got geese and chickens.
Buying off-island
Her first chickens were Ameraucanas, and she has since expanded to have Welsummers and Merans as well. They're heritage breeds — older breeds of birds that lay different coloured eggs.
Cowans had a hard time finding the breeds she wanted on P.E.I., so she bought them from breeders in New Brunswick.
"There are people that do have these breeds here on the island, but they don't necessarily breed them to sell," said Cowans. "Or you may have to know somebody that knows them."
New, local business
After travelling off Island to buy her chickens, Cowans decided to put her rooster to work on P.E.I., so others wouldn't have to travel so far.
"I thought well, we've got him, and then we've got some hens, we might as well breed them here, on the island," said Cowans.
Growing popularity
Cowans purchased some of her chickens from Justine Lewis in Shediac, New Brunswick. Lewis owns Les Farms, where she breeds and sells heritage chickens.
I did not expect that kind of interest. We had to keep expanding because I could not keep up with the demand. - Justine Lewis
When Lewis started her business five years ago, she was surprised to find that most of her customers are from Nova Scotia and P.E.I.
This summer, Lewis sold more than 1,000 chicks — most of them to people out of province.
"I did not expect that kind of interest. We had to keep expanding because I could not keep up with the demand of everyone," said Lewis.
The PEI Purebred Poultry Fanciers Association promotes the raising of purebred poultry, including heritage chickens. Association president Leif Taylor said he's noticed an increase in popularity of families raising their own chickens.
"I'd say it's picked up substantially in the last five or six years," said Taylor.
Cowans bred and sold chickens for the first time this year, with her at-home business Down By the Bay Backyard Poultry.
She's not trying to turn a big profit — she mostly wants to cover the cost of chicken feed and upkeep — but she also hopes her business will give people on P.E.I. a more local option for buying heritage chickens.