Backyard Chickens

by Richard Daley

For thousands of years, chickens have lived alongside humans, providing eggs, various helpful services, and even companionship! Keeping chickens is surprisingly simple, and can help reduce food waste, enrich gardens, and connect us to our own food production. Whether you’re interested in fresh eggs, composting benefits, or the delight of watching hens scratch and cluck their way through your yard, raising chickens is an easy and rewarding step toward a more resilient and Nature-connected community.

For those of us living in Albany, a simple application process along with a $25 annual hen license allows you to keep up to six hens within city limits. Residents of other towns or municipalities should check with their local zoning boards to ensure compliance with local regulations, as rules can vary widely.

Chickens provide far more than fresh eggs. Heritage breeds, in particular, are hardy and well-suited for our Northeast winters. These resilient breeds not only thrive in the cold but also maintain their charm and productivity through the seasons. By offering them a warm, well-ventilated coop, clean water, and proper care, you’ll find they adapt easily to our cold winters, and bring you the happiness so many of us are seeking in the coldest and darkest time of the year.

Chickens are also natural composters, happily consuming food scraps that might otherwise end up in the landfill. This not only reduces the organic waste entering our landfills, the process also creates a nutrient-rich compost that we can use to enrich our gardens and landscapes. The coop bedding, along with manure, can be managed and composted as well to add fertility that supports soil health, plant growth, and helps one move toward a circular and sustainable system in their own backyard.

Backyard chickens are wonderful for children and families. They provide an opportunity for hands-on education about the natural world, a way to teach responsibility, and chickens provide direct engagement with the origins of our food. Caring for chickens builds a sense of connection with the natural world, sparking curiosity and wonder in kids and adults alike. Plus, the daily rhythm of tending to chickens—feeding, watering, collecting eggs—can be a grounding and therapeutic experience in our modern, hectic lives.

In neighborhoods, chickens bring character and conversation. Seeing hens strut around a backyard can brighten a street, spark interest in sustainable living, and create connections between neighbors. Chickens remind us that we are part of a broader interconnected system, one that can be reciprocal when we properly care for and tend to it.

The ubiquity of chickens in human settlements stretches back thousands of years. Domesticated from wild jungle fowl in Southeast Asia over 8,000 years ago, chickens accompanied human migration and became an integral part of village life. In ancient Rome, chickens were prized not just for their eggs and meat but also for their role in divination rituals, symbolizing their importance beyond the practical.

In more recent history, backyard chickens were a staple of American life during the early 20th century, particularly during the World Wars when victory gardens and small-scale farming were encouraged. Keeping chickens was seen as a patriotic duty and a way to ensure food security in uncertain times. This history shows that chickens have long been a bridge between humans and the land, helping us remain connected to cycles of the natural world.

Today, keeping backyard chickens can be an antidote to the growing separation between humans and Nature. Many of us live in a world increasingly detached from where our food comes from, and many are indifferent to  the ecosystems we need to sustain us. Chickens offer an accessible and enjoyable way to reconnect with our roots. Watching their behaviors, from scratching for insects to dust bathing, offers a window into the simplicity and beauty of life on our lovely planet Earth.

Backyard chickens are a joy to keep and an opportunity to make a difference in your home, neighborhood, and local environment. Whether you’re reducing food waste, enriching your garden soil, or sharing the wonders of Nature with your children, chickens can be a step toward a more sustainable and connected way of living in a world that has forgotten our species’ humble roots. It requires work upfront to establish the best conditions for your birds, but bringing the timeless charm of chickens to your backyard will certainly provide reward!

Keeping Your Flock Safe

Backyard chickens face two major threats: avian flu and predators. Stay informed about current avian flu risks in your area and follow biosecurity measures, such as limiting exposure to wild birds and consulting a veterinarian if needed. Additionally, ensure your coop is predator-proof with sturdy fencing, secure latches, and protection from nocturnal hunters like raccoons and foxes. A well-maintained, secure environment keeps your flock healthy and safe.

Editors note: Avian flu has complicated the picture for backyard flock safety. Making sure they do not have contact with wild bird droppings is key, especially under migratory pathways. Some tips to consider in advance of setting up your chicken coop and run are provided here.

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