Backyard Coops Make Chicks Chic (NPR - All Things Considered)

[Dover]

Chicken Chic

May 21, 2009 · Chickens aren't just for farms anymore. That's right — urban hens are hip. Across the country, city dwellers — attracted by the idea of having fresh eggs, a new hobby or even unique pets — are keeping flocks.

Allison Adams, writer and avid organic gardener, has a flock of seven hens in the backyard of her home in Decatur, Ga., not far from Atlanta. A few years ago, Adams saw an article about raising chickens and then approached her neighbor with the idea.

"I love fresh eggs. I love having fertilizer production right in the backyard, so I thought, 'Well, if it's legal, I should probably investigate it,' " Adams says.

Adams and her neighbor, Bill DeLoach, converted a lawnmower shed into a chicken coop and got some baby chicks. Their seven chickens are now 4 years old and produce about 30 eggs a week.

And they have names — royal ones at that. Adams and DeLoach got clever, opting for a queen theme. Among them are Latifah, Ethel and Lucy (queens of comedy), Mary Flannery (queen of Southern gothic), Liliuokalani (a Hawaiian queen), and even one called "Foraday."..cont'd

Cont'd >>

Listen or Read Here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104304441

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The Chicken Whisperer (Blogger and Radio Show in Atlanta)
http://www.atlantachickenwhisperer.blogspot.com/

UPDATE! The Chicken Whisperer is in the process of working with Meetup.com headquarters to start Backyard Poultry Meetup Groups in the capital of every state in America!

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BackYardChickens.Com
http://www.backyardchickens.com/


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[VAliberal]

1. Thanks for the link

I didn't listen to NPR today.

I had suburban chickens as a youngster and am now in process of building a coop and run appropriate for our small town suburb as a means of going greener. Hens turn daily household food scraps into eggs and make very nice pets + fertilizer for the garden. Win win all the way around.

thanks again!

[lib2DaBone]

2. I think there is a problem with Roosters...

Chickens are a wonderful thing. However, contrary to popular belief, Roosters crow all night.. not just at dawn. They crow pretty much... any time they want.

If I lived in an apartment next door to a Rooster that crowed at midnight..and I had to get up for work at 5 a.m. ....... this might present a problem.

[Shallah Kali]

4. That is why so many laws that permit urban chickens only allow hens

:)

[jwirr]

3. Speaking of chickens - a fox got one of our hens yesterday. So we

are out for blood UNTIL this morning we see her down but the pond with four little pups. So I guess we are going to end the free range and build a secure pen. We decided if we are going to survive in this new world of ours we will have to learn to live with the wild ones to. I like you coup.