Fowl play

I like to think I’m an urban environmentalist. I compost. I rely on pedal-power more than fossil-fuel to get around town. I buy local. And organic. But it seems I’m missing a key green accessory that all the groovy greens have. It’s no longer enough to have a hybrid in your driveway and solar panels on your roof. I don’t have…wait for it…backyard chickens.
Turns out that chickens aren’t just for farmers and commune-dwellers anymore. As one site puts it, urban greens are putting the “chic in chicken.”
Though I might sound like I’m joking (yolking? ha!), I find the notion quite appealing. I like chickens (and not just on a rotisserie!). They have that amusing jerky way of moving around – like Seinfeld’s Elaine on the dance floor. They eat grubs and control mosquitoes. They are a clucking, pecking composting machine.
I’m rescued, however, from my feathered fantasy by a friend who confesses his own poultry past. Having given it two attempts, the result (save for a few weeks of double-yolked eggs that he says were delicious) were hen carcasses littering the coop. I imagine my own two dogs licking their chops at the prospect of chicken dinners (we already had a rather sad experience with Stewey, a backyard bunny) and decide that backyard chickens are one green accessory I’m going to have to do without.
I hear rumours, however, that goats are gaining in popularity. And just think of the things I wouldn’t have to landfill if I had a pet goat!

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4 Comments »

Steven Turner, on October 9, 2007 @ 6:42 am |

So, I agree that having chickens would improve how we compost and at the same time rid our backyard of mosquitos and other creepy crawlies. I have a friend who has chickens in his back yard, and they allow for great composting and even a food source as they do not have to drive all the way into town to buy eggs! However, they do have 2 dogs, they have managed to get away without much incident. Even worse this friend of mine lives in BC, surrounded by forests with creatures that would probably kill to have a chicken fiest. It just takes a lot of time and effort to ensure that this procedure works and benifits the people who go through with it.

Brett, on October 9, 2007 @ 7:02 am |

D.R. Boudreau-I enjoy Seinfeld as well. Good reference. It is good that you bicycle around. People think they can’t make a difference by walking or riding bikes but they can. One person walking means one less on the road. Every little bit helps. Chickens are a good source of food. If you raise them you can feed them they way you want and make sure they are healthy. With the proper space and a little effort, raising chickens can be a great source of healhy food that can last a long time. If you live in the city however it probably isn’t possible to raise chickens. The positives I think outweigh the negatives. So with the room and the time raising chickens could be a cost saving, boost to the environment and yourself.

Doug Kinsella, on October 9, 2007 @ 7:09 am |

I agree with your stance, chickens are outrageous to have in our backyards. Your appraoch to economic and environmenal issues is realistic.

Mike Reilly, on October 9, 2007 @ 7:21 am |

A student of D. R Boudreau.

I’ve just moved from Saskatchewan where every back yard was a lush veggy garden, most back yards where completely tilled into gardens. My land lord had her own chicken coup, each time we paid the rent we received 3 dozen fresh farm eggs (free range). These eggs where about the size of baseballs, and where great!!! Try this, eat an egg that was layed by a free range chicken, then eat one from the jailed chicken. The difference is stunning. The same applies to milk. Milk in Saskatchewan tastes like gold compared to bagged milk found in your local grocer. Does that have anything to do with how the cow is kept. What would happen if hundreds of urbanized people keeping animals in there back yard, most people don’t even know how to plant a potato. Who knows how to raise chickens? Plant gardens in your back yard, you’ll save money on produce, in Ontario, the growing season is long enough for every person to grow enough to fill that deep freeze. So case aside your patio chairs, sell your kids swing set, dig up all that chemical rich grass, and plant some cabbage.



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