There’s something brooding in the backyard of Americans across the nation.
It’s nothing sinister, of course. It’s simply chickens.
There’s been a trend around the country of raising chickens in backyards for a number of reasons, such as getting inexpensive eggs, breeding as a hobby and even raising the chickens as pets.
This phenomenon goes under the general term urban farming, but in some areas it’s much more than simple farming.
A recent article in The Times-Picayune reported that there’s a secret world of chickens in the backyard of New Orleanians because more and more people are raising them.
Ariel Wallick of the New Orleans Food and Farm Network was quoted saying chickens help form a bond with the connection and appreciation of food we eat, and they also make great pets.
“Chickens can be extremely social and loving pets,” Wallick said. They are also relatively low maintenance, Wallick said, and once their basic needs of fresh water, food and shelter are met, are “fairly self-sufficient.”
Chickens are definitely becoming a part of New Orleans with domestic and feral birds integrating into the cityscape. A quick drive through certain areas and around City Park yields the sight of a few chickens running across the street.
However, in certain areas of New Orleans and the country there are restrictions for having chickens. They always have to be treated with the same standards of health and care as other pets, like dogs and cats. Most places also have limitations on the number of chickens you can have in your yard.
For people who would like to save money, connect with nature and feel good about themselves, chickens are a great path to explore.
One thing you can’t argue with chickens is that they are pets that just keep giving.
