Growing Number Of U.S. Urban Residents Turn To Chicken As Household Pets

AHN ^ | January 2, 2009

[george76]

While thousands of dogs and cats are being given up by pet owners across the U.S. as times become harder, chickens are gaining popularity as household pets...

The rising popularity of the feathered creature is due to the chicken's ability to provide eggs, pest control, fertilizer and eventually meat. To address zoning regulations, homeowners are working to amend local laws ...

Some cities like New York, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle already allow chicken to be raised by urban residents

[andy58-in-nh]

I was down there this past summer and enjoyed seeing not only chickens wandering the streets and alleys, but iguanas as well, which I was told make splendid pets:

[PghBaldy]

That is horrible.

[Cloverfarm]

Our rooster crows in the middle of the night if somethign disturbs it, like fireworks outside, or a varmint inside.

The cackling hens make quite a racket when they are laying. More so than the rooster.

[PowderMonkey]

"I was told make splendid pets.",/i>

And they do taste just like chicken. I used to see them tied up and stacked like cordwood for sale on the streets of Managua, Nicaragua. Hmmm good eatin'.

[XenaLee]

Yeah, but they’re great at fetching the morning paper!

[Op-Head]

Iguanas do make fun pets (if you like reptiles), but one must be aware of those tails. They can be quit an effective defensive weapon!

Iguanas are kind of like the pigeons of the beaches in Costa Rica. Not to intimidated by people and always roaming around for a bit of food from your beach side picnic.

Great pic!

[dalereed]

The article is just disguising the culture of the illegal aliens!

Urban California is turning into a mexican ghetto!

[andy58-in-nh]

The iguanas in Costa Rica were much like the seagulls here in New England: always looking for a handout, only they were a good deal less messy. This guy would have eaten my entire empanada if I'd let him...

[BenLurkin]

While he and and Caroline Kennedy cruise past in armored limousines.

No joke.

[PistolPaknMama]

the chicken's ability to provide eggs, pest control, fertilizer and eventually meat.

We tried this when my kids were about 10-11 years old. The fresh eggs were really nice, but we named all the chickens. When hubby decided it was time to get out of the chicken business he had a plan to chop up about 15 chickens and put them in the freezer. The kids and I were so freaked out that several of our friends got some free chicken meat.

Footnote: If you plan to eat it at some point, don't give it a name! HA! :-)

[PistolPaknMama]

Duck eggs are wonderful for baking!

We had ducks growing up and yes the eggs are the best for baking. I miss that too! The fun part was finding the eggs dropped here and there, usually in the shallow water of the pond.

[brytlea]

LOL doesn’t do you much good, does it?!

[brytlea]

I never was around hens that lay (not near enough to hear them at night, I guess). We did keep our horses at a place that had guinnea fowl. Now THOSE were noisy birds. Great watch dogs, but I would hate to live in a neighborhood with THEM!

[george76]

Thanks.

Nice work.

[brytlea]

Yes, that was my point! You don’t eat *pets*. I had chickens and rabbits. I initially thought we might eat the rabbits, but we never could. The chickens were banties, I don’t think they would have been much to eat. I’m not opposed to raising your own meat, I think it’s a great idea, but you’re right, don’t name them!

[brytlea]

We have huge ones here, they aren't native of course. They look like dragons. This one was about 5 feet long.

[SolidRedState]

The cackling hens make quite a racket when they are laying. More so than the rooster.

You'd make a racket, too, if you were squeezing out something larger than your head through your wazoo!

[potlatch]

Thanks george but I didn’t make it. I have a folder of little ‘awards’ like that. That is one of the ‘nicer’ ones, lol.

Some are pretty rude, like - “this thread is best read in a blackout”. Things like that, that I never have the nerve to post!

[Osage Orange]

Put in Chicken Hawks....

You will get hundreds of hits.......