Save a Chicken

There is a chicken, named Upsilon, at the Montgomery County Humane Society just down the road from me. She's up for adoption! For more information about this animal, call:Montgomery County Animal Control & Humane Society at (240) 773-5960Ask for information about animal ID number A310528.

Chicken Feature

There is a great special report all about keeping chickens in the city at Alabama.com! It seems that Mobile, Alabama is a hospitable place for chickens.

As for me, in Frederick, Maryland, it seems that I've run out of steam to pull together a presentation for the city council. If I had a group of folks to work with, things would be easier. Between finishing up my MA, opening an art center and working on the Eat Local Challenge, I'm swamped. The chicks might have to wait until spring.

News from North Carolina

Chicken raisers can run afoul of zoning
"A Maryland woman has a blog called Urban Chicken Underground, dedicated to changing municipal laws and legalizing chickens. In Chapel Hill, residents have petitioned the Town Council to relax the town's chicken rules."

That Maryland woman would be me. I don't understand all of these "chicken complaints." I get to listen to annoying barking dogs all day. I don't like dogs, except for the Siberian husky that lives at our house. I certainly don't like other people's non-stop barking dogs. How is a little scratching and clucking worse than that? Heck, even if I had a rooster, he couldn't compete with the Harley engine revving down the street.

Bring on the roosters.

Chickens are, too, snuggly!

That AP reporter that I talked to some weeks ago actually DID write an article! The article is about the Urban Chicken Underground. The article claims that chickens aren't snuggly, but I disagree completely. I've spent a lot of time snuggling chickens in my life. (To the left is a picture of me snuggling with Gertrude the Guinea fowl!)

The article is also mentioned in another article in the Dallas News, Pet chickens don't ruffle feathers in the 'burbs!

The Urban Chicken Underground is even popular in Sweden! "29-åriga Sarah Hempel Irani som har bloggen Urban Chicken Underground, kämpar för att det ska bli tillåtet att ha höns hemma även när man bor i staden."

Chickens at the Land O' Hempel in Olivet.

Not a Chicken

Gertrude is not a chicken; she is a Guinea fowl. She is as cute as a chicken! Guinea fowl are really fascinating birds and when hand raised are very tame and very cute. She enjoys spending time with me and Ivan the Cat!

Cute

Is this the cutest chicken ever? I found this picture at www.mypetchicken.com. There is a whole gallery there of cute chicken pictures!

Today in USA Today

Chicken owners in cities score coop coup

Molly Waisman, her 22-month-old son Arlo and husband David check for eggs in a chicken coop in the backyard of their home. The Madison, Wis., city council voted three years ago to allow residents to keep up to four chickens in their backyards. "Some people think it's pretty radical" to raise chickens in the city, Molly says, but the Waismans love the fresh eggs.