Backyard Chickens

  • By: Karen Skubik
  • May 19, 2014
  • 404
                        
Raised vegetable beds, container herb gardens and even landscaping that includes berry bushes and fruit trees can be spotted when driving around town, but there is one form of urban agriculture that is less apparent: backyard chickens. Whether it is due to consumers desire to be more self-sufficient, know where there food is coming from, or families wanting to experience animal husbandry, it seems a number of residents are sharing their yards with domestic feathered friends. Living just a stone’s throw from Cornerstone Elementary School, the Carey family decided last spring they were ready to make the plunge into keeping chickens. Annette Carey explained, “We have family in Michigan who live in the country and kept chickens for years. The kids and I always really enjoyed watching and interacting with the hens…. As I read more and more about the health benefits of home grown eggs v/s store bought eggs, that cemented my desire to have some hens of our own.” Carey’s research included contacting the City of Wooster to find out what ordinances were in place regarding backyard poultry. According to Andrew Dutton, Wooster’s zoning manager, “On the face of it, you can have chickens as long as they don’t create a nuisance.” Citing code 505.08, he explained the areas of concern mainly include noise and odor. Carey decided not to have a rooster, avoiding the early morning crowing and said, “We chose a variety of breeds mostly based, I admit it, on how cute they were!” Martie Starr of Starr Fowl Farm recently led a class at Local Roots Market and Café on “Chickens 101” and explained the first item to consider is breed choice. Starr shared several resources including a website: www.backyardchickens.com. “I wanted to have chickens live the way they are supposed to”, noted Starr explaining this means free range and able to enjoy life. “Most of my friends think I’m nuts because they don’t have the same affinity”, said Starr who likes to eat non-GMO food and commented, “they are fun to watch and a good way to wind down and relax”. Carey also enjoys more than the egg consumption stating, “The most rewarding part of having the chickens has been all the joy they’ve brought us. There’s really nothing funnier than seeing chickens run and their clucks and calls warm my heart.” Carey’s children, sister, and mother all participated in the backyard project, but her husband, Andy Carey, “wasn’t really on board at first”, although Annette Carey said, “the chickens have completely won him over. He picks grass and weeds and makes them a salad every day and enjoys hanging out with them.” Andy Carey has made the coop a work of art including a chicken jungle gym and a selection of roosts. Families aren’t the only ones in town enjoying chickens. The Montessori School of Wooster has a flock of chickens for educational purposes. According to Kelly Chandler, a preschool/kindergarten teacher, “It has been such a great experience for the kids.” “We eat hard-boiled eggs for snack once a week or so and use (the eggs) for special baking projects, explained Chandler. In addition to employing eggs for science experiments and studying the parts of the egg, Chandler said, “We have studied chicken behavior and the anatomy of the chicken as well.” With no requirement to file with the City of Wooster, the number of poulty owners in town is unknown, but according to Worldwatch Institute, U.S. city dwellers are flocking to raise chickens.


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