Posted on 07/05/2009 8:43:11 AM PDT by mylife
Dan Probst, a retired restaurateur who raises chickens in Hunt County, says his urban sales have risen fivefold since last year.
Hens typically cost between $15 and $40. At their peak, they can lay an egg a day.
"Explosive growth," he said.
A pastime once limited to the occasional overachieving gardener, backyard chicken farming has caught fire among suburbanites craving a slice of the countryside and the promise of fresh eggs.
Not all are enamored of the trend, which some view as but an eco-friendly fad. Concerns about noise, odors and sanitation abound. (Supporters say those worries are unfounded.)
And the sudden wave of interest has, in some places, outpaced the ability of city halls to react with regulations and enforcement. But make no mistake: The trend has, well, taken flight.
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(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
A chicken in every pot?
Hey girl, you were out in front of this trend!
A chicken on every lot.
Our motivations are part hobby and part self-sufficiency. We know the history of our 20th Century ancestors and how people who took care of themselves could survive in tough times.
Back in my grandparents day, every one had a chicken coop. Eggs were almost a daily staple then.
These people and their neighbors will be suprised (and annoyed) when they find out roosters don’t only crow in the morning. In fact, some can be downright noisy all day long!
I get these Ameraucana eggs. Blue, green, yellow...
Those eggs are delicious
heyup
Well, my Rhode Island Reds came home to roost in February. They are due to start laying eggs any day now.
And he’s right about “explosive growth.” You can almost see them grow every day.
I raise Cornish-crosses for food and I have a flock of layers for eggs. I also raise two Turkeys a year. We grow our own veggies and buy our beef and pork from the rancher across the road. We’ve done this for the past 15 years. It is not cost effective, but the products are superior. The notion that raising Chickens, beef and pork as a way to beat the “tough times” is really not going to be realized for many.
Dawgs are noisy as well
Keep in mind that the fabled “bird flu” struck only those who were n close proximity to chickens.
Lot of chicken farmers on this board
If they complain , buy guineas.....give them something really to complain about
chicks don’t cost that much. IF a person sticks to hens and buys them young you can find them fro $2 each all day long.
If you live in a subdivision, don’t keep roosters and your hens will not make a “peep” (so to speak).
Build a nice hen house and your neighbors will never know. Not only will you get about 4-5 eggs a week from each hen, but you’ll have plenty of fertilizer for your garden or flower bed.
America needs to reconnect with their food sources. Too many people have lost the reality of where food comes from.
I had one lady tell me that she doesn’t eat eggs from a chicken, “That’s gross - I only eat eggs from Kroger”
Yup, it’s a real scourge alright
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Yes....meat,eggs, and the best fertilzier on earth, in only a 400 sq. ft. area.
My chickens are free-range, and eat great stuff. A happy little flock.
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