AVOIDING THE MISSHAPS OF RAISING CHICKENS

IMPORTANT POINTERS FOR THE NEW POULTRY OWNER

- PETER SUCIU

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was common to keep livestock, including pigs, cows and even chickens, in towns and cities in the United States. As the cities grew, local ordinances slowly curbed the keeping of animals in urban centers—mostly due to the issues of noise and smell nuisances—but even those were relaxed during wartime as people were encouraged to find creative ways to feed themselves. After World War II, the flight to the suburbs, thanks to the availability of the automobile, along with increased accessibility to packaged and prepared foods, made the keeping of animals a thing of the past.

By the 1980s, for the most part, only farmers (or possibly hippies) dared raise chickens. Given the fact that there’s an abundance of grocery stores in most areas, and because we live in a technology-centric culture, it would seem unlikely that individuals would consider raising livestock ... yet, the chickens have come home to the 'burbs and cities to roost!

Many cities have relaxed their regulations and made permits easier to obtain to raise and keep chickens. Large cities, such as New York, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, have chicken programs, while suburban or backyard chickens are also hatching around the country and with the support of major food producers.

Raising backyard chickens gives families more time together, teaches responsibility to children and puts food on the table, said Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) Consumer Products Business Manager and chicken expert Mike Barrett.