Introduction

Concerned about the economy, household budgets, food safety and the environment, people are rediscovering the skills and pastimes of prior generations. These include vegetable gardening, home preservation of foods and chicken raising. As interest in these activities has grown, municipalities across our state and country have kept or adopted ordinances allowing residents to keep a limited number of egg-laying hens.

• Urban chickens, when provided with appropriate living space, are pets not livestock.
• Chickens are considered pets all over the United States, in cities as well as in suburban and rural areas.
• More than 65% of major US cities allow chickens to be kept as pets.
• Complaints concerning backyard flocks are the exception, not the rule.
• Female chickens (hens) make slightly more noise than regular conversation, they do not make noise at night, and they are 13 decibels quieter than the average barking dog.
• Chickens are educational; chicken-keeping teaches responsibility and self-sufficiency, and above all, it is good for the environment.