The Leonard Lopate Show
Underreported: City Chickens
It’s a little-known fact that it’s perfectly legal to be a small-scale chicken farmer in New York City. A new program called The City Chicken Project helps New Yorkers raise hens for eggs, which are usually tastier and healthier than the eggs available in the supermarket. Owen Taylor, co-writer of The City Chicken: A Guide to Raising Hens for Eggs in NYC, and Karen Washington, community gardener and chicken-keeper in the Bronx, offer some advice.
Slideshow of Chickens in the City
Glad Just Food is doing just eggs!
During my Americorp Service with them in 2003/2004, I obtained 4 meat chicks at a conference. I raised them on my boyfriends apartment roof in Bushwick. (I always got a strange look from the pigeon feed guys when shopping for chix food). When they were of age, we slaughtered and cooked them. I learned 3 things from the experience:
1. I do not know how to raise meat birds.
2. There is a reason that there is a division of labor on the farm- never be the one to both slaughter AND dress/cook the chicken!
3. The next time I do chickens, it will be for eggs only.
Since then, my story has gotten around and I've been known as the Chicken Lady.
Keep clucking.
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