Chickens make a home in the city
The Los Angeles Times reports that more families are housing chickens in their backyards. That may not seem like such a big deal, but these families live in cities.
A bunch of cities have made it legal for urban dwellers to raise chickens. And groups are lobbying for more cities to allow it. Baltimore allows up to four chickens.
They seem interested in saving money on eggs. Chickens produce an average of one a day. They think it's healthier and safer to grow their own food -- veggie, meat, everything. And also, some think it's nice to show the kids where food comes from.
If you have chickens, email me at meredith.cohn@baltsun.com and tell me about it. If your neighbors have chickens and you're not so happy about it, you can also email. I may want to write more about this. And, of course, post a comment.
Photo in Madison, Wis., courtesy of the Los Angeles Times
Comments
My family has been seriously considering raising chickens. We live in northern Baltimore County on a main road. Our neighors across the street have chickens that wonder around freely and miraculously have not wondered into the road. We love to hear the cackling and crowing.
Posted by: NotableM | June 15, 2009 3:16 PM
When I was small, our neighbors had ducks and chickens. The amount of cracked corn left out for them attracted mice and then rats. Big ones.
I'll let Springfield Farm raise my eggs, thank you.
Posted by: bryanintimonium | June 15, 2009 9:02 PM
I have almost finished building a portable, A-frame coop. I got the plans from Organic Gardening. I plan to raise three hens in Baldwin. Our neighbors have several hens.
Posted by: Fisher | June 15, 2009 10:55 PM
I live in N. Balt. Co. too. I want to keep chickens but I live in an apartment...
Posted by: locallady | June 15, 2009 11:24 PM
Notable, what do your neighbors do during winter in the way of keeping those chickens warm?
Have they mentioned that sometimes chickens as my grandmother used to say, "Want to set" and will actually fight - come at you with the spurs on the back of those legs - a kid trying to collect eggs. (Really. When the kid goes to her 4th grade class in NJ the next September and, in response to What I Did On My Summer Vacation, writes that a chicken attacked her, NJ teachers are inclined to accuse her of making this up.)
They also, sometimes poop on their eggs. Washable but icky.
Posted by: Eve | June 16, 2009 11:29 AM
Eve,
My neighbors have a coop. They let the chickens roam around too, though.
Posted by: NotableM | June 16, 2009 12:47 PM
See Denis, Jen, Evie, McMurray hatchery and others from the LA times article all in the new documentary Mad City Chickens.
Posted by: Judy Collinster | June 16, 2009 4:04 PM