North Forty’s annual chicken sale is coming up again and this year looks to be busier than ever with over 3000 poultry on order already.

Each spring Cochranites and residents from the surrounding area flock to this event. Whether you are looking for a couple of feathered friends for pets or a couple hundred for the farm, North Forty can accommodate you.

Mary Harder, the store manager says the idea to have the chicken sale was partly because of the demand from the community "We knew it was going to be a popular thing, we have people coming in all the time asking where do I buy chickens, do you know where I can buy chickens, and when you get asked that so many times, we ask ourselves, well why don't we start selling chickens?"

This year features 19-week-old Lohmann Brown laying hens coming from the same farm as they do every year. They are known for their friendly personality and incredible laying power. Lohmann Browns are hardy over our cold Alberta winters and are generally sociable with their owners.

Mary continues that even with the cost of feed on the rise, customers are ordering chickens this year " I did have a worry that the increase would affect the sale, it hasn't, we've had just as many orders as last year if not more actually so it really hasn't affected the sale."

Calgary recently changed a bylaw allowing residents to keep chickens on their property. Mary thinks Cochranites are split on allowing them in town "I think it's mixed feelings, a lot of people would really love having one or two chickens in their backyard, I think some people would not enjoy that but I think it is a hot commodity and most people would support it."

The sale runs on April 7 and is pre-order basis only.

"We are so excited that the day is coming up, and we are so thankful to our customers who return every year to buy more chickens!"

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