Why Chickens?
In response to citizens’ requests, municipalities all across America have adopted ordinances allowing residents to keep a limited number of egg-laying hens as pets within city limits. Dothan, Huntsville, Birmingham, Auburn, Mobile, Trussville, Jacksonville, and Montgomery are just a few of Alabama’s chicken friendly cities. Heck, even Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Chicago, Denver, Atlanta, Boston, and New York (New York City !?!?) allow backyard chicken keeping. In fact, according to Newsweek Magazine, more than 65% of major U.S. cities now have chicken keeping ordinances.
But some people want to know… why do you want to put chickens in your backyard?
Hens are good pets
Chickens that are hand-raised from chicks can be wonderful pets. They come when they are called, enjoy being held and are beautiful and even affectionate pets. Many people find watching chickens relaxing and entertaining.
Hens provide great-tasting, fresh, nutritious eggs for your family
Studies show that compared to ordinary eggs, eggs from hens with access to plants and bugs have less cholesterol and saturated fat, but several times more beta carotene, Vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids. They also have much more vitamin A, vitamin B-12, and folic acid. That egg you buy from WalMart may well be a month old and is produced by a bird chuck full of antibiotics and hormones. Have you noticed how many food recalls there are? Wouldn’t you feel safer knowing where your food is coming from?
Hens require little space to be happy and healthy
3 hens can live a happy and healthy life in just 12 square feet.
Hen manure is a wonderful fertilizer which can provide you a healthy garden without all of the chemicals
Natural pest control
Hens love to eat the nasty bugs in your yard, including mosquitoes, termites, roaches, slugs, ticks, and beetles .
Chickens eat kitchen scraps and lawn clippings
Chickens help to keep these items out of landfills and turning them into healthy eggs.
Chicken keeping is educational
Backyard chickens provide lessons for children about responsibility and where food comes from. 4-H and BoyScouts have fun, educational programs involving chickens (Chick Chain, Merit Badge.)
Backyard chickens allow us to reduce our carbon footprint by producing some of our own food.
Every food item we can produce organically and on our own property is one less item that must be shipped to us and shopped for. Every item of food we raise ourselves represents a step in living a greener, more sustainable lifestyle.
Factory farming
Factory farming is not good for the environment and the animals are not treated well.
