I live in Fort Collins, a town of about 130,000. The city just passed a law last fall saying that having backyard chickens was allowed, and since then, I know one person who got her chickens right away when the law passed, and it's a constant topic of conversation among the several others I know who are interested in starting up this summer. The reason these laws are being changed is because people are lobbying for them. At least one other town nearby has a citizens' group trying to get the same change. All of these people live in town, not on farms. I don't know, sounds like a trend to me. I myself will be jumping on the bandwagon in a few weeks. (And I hadn't even heard of it before the law passed--but suddenly everyone was talking about it.) I think most people who are interested in backyard chickens don't really do it to save money. It's usually more along the lines of wanting to source more of their food locally, not wanting to support mass-produced eggs, having an interest in knowing more about the process of where their food comes from, etc. It's a natural outgrowth of the popularity of people like, for example, Michael Pollan. (And surely HE'S not a bogus trend!)

There are rather a lot of foxes in Fort Collins too. This could get ugly.

Ditto here in Rockland County, just north of NYC, but I don't want to call it a mere trend. And chickens are really cheap - haven't bought eggs in over a year and have spent way less on food and supplies. Reporters didn't need to convince me to get chickens - I always wanted them - but I applaud their reporting, and if they are generating anything, its more chicken raisers and backyard farmers which will result in less consumption of fossil feuls. That's the kind of reporting we need more of, instead of negative reporting intent on generating negative hype about good things regular citizens are doing to have a positive impact on the environment.

Wait a second. Are you saying that if everyone on the planet raised their own chickens, it would be more efficient, thereby reducing fossil fuel usage and therefore having a positive impact on the environment? Farming in the US has evolved in an economically efficient manner - perhaps not the most ethical manner (or possibly the most healthy) - but you can't tell me that backyard chickens really do any good for anyone except yourself.

I accept that this is a fun hobby for some people, and that's it. It does not help the environment in the least. If anything, it probably makes the system less efficient and harder to manage.

Website traffic to the major "backyard chicken" type websites has increased 300% to 700% in the past three years. I'd call that a trend. See the chart here:
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It seems Jack often lacks the discipline to do any real research--he simply looks over current articles in well-established and well-regarded publications and takes a contrary view on any given subject. In fact, I think the fact that Jack chose to write on this subject at all on shows there is a trend--good or not, it exists and is growing. His whole bent on journalism is rather nihilistic and shows a lack of creativity. So, chicken lovers (and local food advocates, another trend he trashes) take heart--Jack is a Hack.

Jack DEFINITELY did not do his research, and his prejudice is showing. All I had to do was send a link to two of my farming friends, both of whom raise MANY chickens. (Several dozen, not several thousand debeaked suffering creatures.) The first, Cynthia Sandberg of Love Apple Farm in Ben Lomond, California, replied: "It's not bogus for me. My last three chicken classes have sold out. I had 56 people come to my last one, and had to turn away folks." The second, Jean Harrah of Deep Roots Ranch in Watsonville, said simply: "If the trend of backyard chickens is bogus, how come all the hatcheries were selling more chicks than usual and running out?" I myself have several friends with backyard chickens, and some other farmer friends who are CONSTANTLY advising other young farmers, as well as customers at the farmers markets, on how to get set up with a small operation. This is not a trend. It's a lovely thing, an indicator of hope, and a direct result of skepticism of big ag and untrustworthy foods we're being sold. I say shame on you, Mr. Shafer. It's so cynical of you to write in this way. Tana Butler http://www.iheartfarms.com

This is an example of why the USDA is so off the mark with NAIS (http://NoNAIS.org for those who missed it). The USDA claims there are only 1.4 million premises. They also say that any location with any livestock animals, even a single chicken, is a premise. I would put the number of premises at more like 6 to maybe even 10 million. They will never succeed at getting 100% compliance with a mandatory NAIS. Thus they must design the system to work with partial compliance. Ergo mandatory is not necessary. NAIS is for the benefit of the big producers, primarily for those who want to export. If they want such a system, let them create a private funded voluntary tracking program. That is Constitutional and good basic capitalism.

I have six backyard chidkens and we provide eggs to the soup kitchen in town, so my hens actually do good for many people.

Chickens are delightful creatures. Each one has her personality. Studying their behavior is gratifying. They really care about each other. All the "ladies" piled on one who had been the victim of a hawk attack, as if to protect her. Roosters are the best of husbands and fathers. They will move to get between their hens and the visitor who opens the door. And one is well-advised not to advance because the roosters are well-equipped to stab the daylights out of any trespasser.

Any living creature is going to produce excrement, i.e. chicken shit. There are ways to handle it that are not so disgusting. And it makes great compost for the garden.

Are backyard chickens good for people and the environment? Definite yes on that one!

We live in a small Teas town outside of Dallas.

I didn't know it was a trend last October when my daughters said they wanted some chickens,as pets. We called up a local Hatchery and ordered a dozen Chickens. They sent 18, we gave away the extra roosters we didn't need and I went online to ask Questions and learn more about these little feathered pets. There are now over 35,000 Members of Backyard Chickens and it is growing daily. If an association or club doubles its membership on a yearly basis I think it must be something to take note of. Say, maybe it's a Trend. Whatever it is, since my daughters chickens have started laying eggs there have been a lot of people tell me how much they like fresh eggs and it is not about the money, when eggs are $1.00 a dozen locally there are people willing to pay two or three times that amount to get eggs fresh from the chicken.

It is really nice when your pets make you breakfast.