Home > Table Talk > Archives > 2008 > April > 30 > Entry

Chicks in the city, fresh eggs in the pan

My niece kept three chickens for a while, first in an apartment where they had access to a sunny courtyard, then in her Cabbagetown back yard. She got daily rewards of fresh eggs and hens tame enough to let her pick them up and nestle.

Other Atlanta and Decatur residents are keeping hens, too, as unlikely as it seems in such an urban setting. City codes allow it. (Many counties and municipalities don’t, imposing requirements for two acres or more to house livestock.)

If you’ve thought of keeping chickens and live in an area that allows it — a good way to know is to check with your county or city’s code enforcement office — you can see how others are raising hens in an urban setting at this weekend’s Chicks in the City tour, sponsored by Georgia Organics and the Oakhurst Community Garden. The tour is self-guided, with maps to homes where chicken owners will show off their coops and talk about their birds.

If you’re going to the Chicks tour, tickets are $15 for members of Georgia Organics and the Oakhurst Community Garden; $20 for others. Children are $5; children younger than 8 are free. Tickets can be purchased on the tour web site, or by phone at 678-702-0400.

Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: Local Food

Comments

By Rodney

April 30, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this

This is FANTASTIC!

My mother has a hen house with 7 or 8 “laying hens” and one rooster. She lives in south Georgia outside of the city limits so code enforcement isn’t something she worries about BUT, it’s really nice to know that people within the city limits can keep chickens!

Sometimes my Mom’s chickens give her so many eggs she has to crate them up and give them away. I don’t think she’d ever think of selling them, but she’s more than happy if you bring her an empty egg carton to fill it up for you.

There’s nothing like a so-fresh-you-have-to-wash-it-off egg.

And her secret to keeping her hens a-layin’ … feed them a combination of table scraps (eggshells included, cannibalism!), chicken feed and greens from her garden.

By One

April 30, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this

Ewwwwwwwww, eggs are “chicken menstruation”!!!! Okay, now I have to puke!!!!

By me

April 30, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this

I remember my grandmother in KY had chickens. Nothing like home grown chicken (with dumplings). The chicken that you buy in the stores taste nothing like the home grown.

By Jo

April 30, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this

One: “Ewwwwwwww” is right. I also heard they’re chicken miscarriages. Total vegetarianism is starting to look more & more appealing..

By Jables

April 30, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

Who was the first person to say, “You know what, I think I’ll eat the next thing that pops out of that feathered thing’s backside”? Whoever s/he was, thanks! Eggs is tasty, yo. A little Canadian bacon, goat cheese, wrapped up in a tortilla…mmmm!

By Rodney

April 30, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

ONE AND JO Your protestations fall on deaf ears …

I’ve eaten all kinds of eggs - quail, chicken, roe, alligator. My favorite prep is quail eggs, salted and skewered and grilled kushiyaki-style.

By Together for 12

May 1, 2008 8:22 AM | Link to this

You can hate eggs and think they’re gross all you want, but you might want to consider how many things you eat that there are eggs IN.

Breads, pastas, many baked goods, cakes, and more! Start reading those labels, folks, because you probably are still eating “miscarriages” or “menstruation” even if you don’t buy eggs!

By Beldar Conehead

May 20, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this

Ahhh! The morning meal! Shredded swine flesh…and fried chicken embryos!

By ma253zda

August 23, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

c48t

By Acai Berry Pills

August 24, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this

I’m always into discussions on anything organic, so this read made me feel at home. I’ll bookmark the site and subscribe to the feed!

Commenting is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F

Post a comment



Remember me?

You may use the following formatting:
Bold: **this text will be bolded** = this text will be bolded
Italic: *this text will be italic* = this text will be italic
Link: [text to be linked](http://www.ajc.com) = text to be linked



There will be a delay of up to 5 minutes before your comment appears.


*HTML not allowed in comments. Your e-mail address is required.

 

Sponsored Gallery

Sponsored Living Photo Gallery

Photos by Havertys

Havertys Furniture

At Havertys, livable style and lasting quality come together to make furniture built for life.




Kudzu.com: Mosquitos are breeding.  Ready for the bites?
Today's deal from DealSwarm.com
AJC Breaking News Updates