City Folk Flock To Raise Small Livestock At Home

npr ^ | January 10, 2009

[JoeProBono]

If you picked up a carton of eggs at the store this week, they probably set you back about $1 or $1.50. The organic, cage-free kind costs more like $3. But some urban and suburbanites are skipping the store entirely when it comes to things like eggs and honey and turning instead to their own backyards. Whether from tighter food budgets or local-eating ideals, more and more people are petitioning their cities to allow small animal husbandry.

[JoeProBono]

Urban chickens on Brad's sun porch.

[JoeProBono]

[JoeProBono]

[org.whodat]

Where ever there are chickens there is chicken ++it. But have at it, and enjoy!! I had a pet chicken when I was little, of course the chicken didn't know it was a pet. It tasted good a couple of years later!!

[JoeProBono]

[i_dont_chat]

We live in southwest Houston, and I’m not kidding: there are 3 hens and 1 rooster in the yard next door to us.

We hear them in the mornings — and I guess they are laying eggs.

My daughter told me yesterday “I don’t care — the next time those neighbors bring us BBQ chicken or chicken fajitas, I’M NOT EATING ‘EM!”

ha ha

[brytlea]

I had a couple of pet chickens. We didn’t eat them, but they are dumber than dirt and not the cleanest critters. If I lived in the country I don’t care what my neighbors have (ok, pigs next door might be less than desirable) but in the city, there’s a reason livestock is prohibited.

[org.whodat]

That was the reason of the have fun. LOL,

[org.whodat]

ROFLOL

[JoeProBono]

Click on me

[brytlea]

I also had rabbits (I convinced my parents we would eat them later—but of course, no, they never were a meal!) I wouldn’t mind living out in the country again and having critters (I think I could even eat them now).

[JoeProBono]

[mamelukesabre]

I would rather raise rabbits than chickens. But I would rather eat chickens than rabbits. (and chicken eggs)

As far as food goes, it would most likely be easier to feed pigs than chicken or rabbits...in a city that is. Pig meat is likely more valuable than chicken or rabbit too.

I suspect that if you did a scientific study, rats would be the best option for city meat production. Try finding someone that will eat ratmeat though.

[JoeProBono]

"rats would be the best option for city meat production"

[NVDave]

Guinea pigs.

Seriously. People in the Andes eat them. They gain well on only a little bit of feed, they can stand cold weather, they pack on quite the little bit of meat.

Since urbanites don’t have feed growing naturally (due to the lack of land), they have to bring in all their feed. They should be most concerned about what farmers call “conversion efficiency” - ie, how many pounds of meat do you get per pound of feed in. Sheep have a higher conversion than cows, for example, and goats a tad higher than sheep, and chickens higher yet. You get the idea.

[Lizavetta]

We recently got some hens that were rescued from a factory farm situation. Beaks cut, plumage a mess due to forced molting, pale skin from lack of sunlight.

Moreover, they had no clue how to act like chickens, as they've been caged all their lives and never got the chance. They don't know how to scratch in the dirt, don't know how to take dirt baths, don't know they're supposed to roost at night, don't know they're supposed to dive in when we give them table scraps.

Luckily we have acreage and are going to be swimming in eggs in the spring, plus chickens are funny to watch.

[JoeProBono]

[brytlea]

Please don’t tell the chicken I had for lunch!

[brytlea]

But sheep taste so much like mutton...

[brytlea]

I’m just curious how chickens get rescued from a factory farm?

[JoeProBono]

[Lizavetta]

The SPCA didn't know, they just got the phone call from the rescue. In the past we've gotten rescue hens because the factory farm was closing down or something.

Oh, and their toenails were about 3 inches long. They were a mess, but they're kicking it with the 'experienced' hens so they'll get with the program eventually.

[mamelukesabre]

Yep, I get the idea.

But pigs can be fed garbage. So can rats. can guinea pigs?

BTW, the most efficient meat production is ostriches, if I remember correctly. But I doubt a city dweller can raise one by feeding it city dweller garbage.

[brytlea]

I had no idea there was chicken rescue. I once had a friend who did rabbit rescue. Enjoy your eggs!

[JoeProBono]

"the most efficient meat production is ostriches"

Watchit buddy!

[JoeProBono]

[JoeProBono]

[org.whodat]

You order baby chicks in the mail!!!

[JoeProBono]

OMG!

[najida]

http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com
I’m looking though their catalogue right now.

The eggs make the best cakes you’ll ever eat.

[org.whodat]

That one was drive through order at KFC.

[brytlea]

In a round-about way maybe that’s rescuing them from a factory farm...

[JoeProBono]

[brytlea]

I suspect my HOA would throw a shoe if I got a few chickens... To say nothing of what my husband would do!

[NVDave]

Y’all wanna be careful about feeding pigs garbage.

I’ve seen pigs fed garbage in one pen, and in an adjoining pen pigs fed grain, alfalfa and so on.

The pigs that got the garbage get aggressive. Real aggressive.

I doubt city dwellers would be prepared for how aggressive larger pigs can become.

[JoeProBono]

[Gabz]

Garden Ping!!!!

I’m not so sure about raising livestock in the City -— but heck, why not!!!!!

[JoeProBono]

[Gabz]

Your pix are an absolute HOOT!!!!!

[mamelukesabre]

Eventually, you can feed them the dead bodies of the rival gangs that you eliminate.

:)

Just remove the hair and teeth before feeding the bodies to the pigs.

But ya. I agree. most city dwellers are clueless about ALL animals. Just look at how they treat their lapdogs and their kids! That right there should tell you what they are like.

They aren’t totally dumb though. THey’d learn the hard way eventually.

[mamelukesabre]

Aw. Hes a cute little ham sandwich.

[mamelukesabre]

Maybe not brave. Maybe REEL fast!

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Just Dammmm!

Now I don’t want to eat chicken. Yeesh.

[bastinado]

[bastinado]

[Gabz]

Now I don’t want to eat chicken.

That became my husband's attitude the first (and only) time he ate rattle snake. He was told it tastes like chicken, now he says chicken tastes like rattler :)

[metmom]

Yeah, the fragrance is one reason.

I’ve been near chicken coops on farms and prefer that they stay there.

[metmom]

In Colombia (SA) the people feed their guinea pigs scraps from the kitchen. When they’re big enough it’s dinner time.

[metmom]

Ostrich is great.

Tastes like beef.

Really....

[JoeProBono]