Illegal Chickens

The backyard chicken trend is becoming more and more prevalent these days. But in many North American cities, keeping a flock of hens is still illegal. On our cross country Real Food Road Trip, we met up with some unlikely outlaws who were breaking the law right in their own back yards, by producing fresh farm eggs.

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Comments

[Kari OKeefe]

08:42 AM on 04/19/2012

It was recommended in WWII era that 2 hens per person be kept for fresh eggs. Self reliance, imagine that.

[Conspiracy2Riot]

12:37 PM on 04/19/2012

Fan # 1. Seems being self reliant is just plain frowned upon these days.

Bet you enjoy this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7JRiIXP30U&list=FL1XSBtmn3gJKLMXypOQ_eLQ&index=24&feature=plpp_video

[Bklein153]

09:24 AM on 04/18/2012

While I currently have chickens - I live on 43 acres and have a working farm/ranch - I am not so sure that owning chickens everywhere is a wise thing to do. I have lived overseas - Asia - and can attest to the problems with having large numbers of poultry on every stoop or open space. the primary risk is that of bird born pathogens. One of the single greatest epidemiological threats to humans is that a bird virus will mutate and being in close proximity to humans, will lead to a pandemic that could lead to millions dying. This may sound far fetched but the influenza outbreak of 1918 which killed millions is a prime example. this is why many urban areas ban chicken ownership

[hugatree]

12:02 PM on 04/18/2012

Not going to be a problem in our sizeable American yards with 2 or 3 hens per yard.

[Bklein153]

12:58 PM on 04/18/2012

That is fine, but in place like NYC - its a serious health risk

[Conspiracy2Riot]

12:39 PM on 04/19/2012

i worry more about the unhealthy, brutal conditions in CAFO's over the home owner livestock/poultry issue. that's where we'll see some nasty pathogens originating.

[Bklein153]

01:30 PM on 04/19/2012

Hey I'm not against keeping chickens. We have chickens, sheep, 2 dairy cows, and 5 pigs - soon to increase one is pregnant. The problem I have is in urban areas, if a chicken was to carry avian flu, it would spread so fast it would be devastating. The brutality issue could be solved by just enforcing current FDA regulations!

[thebarbecuemast]

08:42 AM on 04/18/2012

chickens in your backyard should be legal everywhere in the use. Maybe there should be a limit on how many chickens per square foot or not to have a rooster cook a doodle doing at 4am,but two have hens with fresh eggs should be a right for all. if the chickens are free range its much better then some of the cruel ways hens are kept by egg industries-they are the outlaws not someone who raises 2 chickens for eggs for his family. I have 2 chickens myself so do many of my neighbors ere in arizona/

http://thebarbecuemaster.net

[daigz]

03:26 PM on 04/17/2012

Didn't Paula Deen get fined for keeping chickens at her house?
Chickens are pretty neat. I hate that I'll eventually need to look for a place where this is specifically allowed, since I know I'm going to want a few of them..

[onionboy]

01:37 PM on 04/17/2012

When you criminalize chickens, only criminals will have chickens.

[PaulBardinas]

01:07 PM on 04/17/2012

Breaking the law, breaking the law!!! It's absurd that some cities would have an ordinance against keeping chickens. No roosters I understand. Fines for excessive odor I understand. But, it is possible to keep a small, clean, and odor free flock of hens in almost any backyard. They eat bugs, create organic fertilizer, and consume kitchen scraps that would otherwise go into the landfill. Win, win, win!

I have 100 chickens on my little farm and they're great.

[sabelmouse]

07:18 AM on 04/18/2012

we're forbidden all life stock yet every second house has a yappy dog that poops everywhere. just great.

[PaulBardinas]

11:01 AM on 04/18/2012

Time to move to the country :-) Less crowded and slower pace.

[Conspiracy2Riot]

12:46 PM on 04/19/2012

right?

[Bklein153]

09:38 AM on 04/18/2012

They also carry disease. Bird flu, Influenza, Salmonella, Campylobacter Enteritis, Staphylococcus Aureus

[PaulBardinas]

09:57 AM on 04/18/2012

True, but I'm not sure I follow your point. Proper handling and sanitation are an understood part of keeping any animal. My goats and horse carry worms. My dogs get ticks and fleas. My rabbits carry disease too. People carry disease and your more likely to get sick from improper food handling at your local restaurant than from some chickens in a backyard.

[Sparky Laslo]

02:56 AM on 04/19/2012

Your 43 acres must either be a very sterile place or you have a penchant for moon suits.

[Karl Wilder]

12:59 PM on 04/17/2012

Everyone with a backyard should have chickens and a garden.

[Sparky Laslo]

03:05 AM on 04/19/2012

The frontyard is a good place for a garden too!

[Conspiracy2Riot]

12:47 PM on 04/19/2012

too true. peppers, tomatoes, basil, dill and lots of other things mix into landscapes quite nicely.

[OpenCarbon]

10:47 AM on 04/17/2012

We have 5 chickens, the neighbours love them and in London it is OK

[TaurusRose]

01:27 PM on 04/17/2012

Next door they have three HUGE chickens and I hate 'em; they are dirty, noisy and run around in all
the yards causing chaos.

[sabelmouse]

07:19 AM on 04/18/2012

how can they run around in all the yards ?

[TaurusRose]

09:39 AM on 04/18/2012

They are not illegal here. They get loose from the small chicken coop two doors down, and run around. Seeing the owners running around chasing them is almost worth the annoyance!) I thought this was SOP for chickens, am I mistaken? Fortunately (until THIS), we live in a non traditional California community that is NOT big on fences and one property runs right into the other here. I also forgot to add that the chickens are also SMELLY!

[sabelmouse]

07:21 AM on 04/18/2012

lucky you. i live semi ruraly in ireland , a council estate and we're not allowed life stock. only dogs that yapp and poop. everywhere.
but a couple of chickens or a goat would be an imposition i suppose.