Ever wanted to raise chickens with more than just a wing and a prayer?
The city of Austin wants to help you by providing free chicken-keeping classes and a $75 rebate on a new coop.
The city says you can be an urban chicken farmer in four steps:
- Take a free chicken keeping class. See the current class schedule below to register.
- Buy a chicken coop from any retailer.
- Submit an online rebate application with copies of your receipt or download and print a PDF application.
- Receive a $75 rebate check from the City of Austin by mail.*
According to Austin Resource Recovery, keeping chickens is a great way to keep your food waste out of the landfill because chickens can recycle your scraps and provide fresh eggs.
The chicken-keeping classes are part of Austin Resource Recovery's Home Composting Rebate Program, which provides Austinites with more ways to help reach Austin's Zero Waste goal.
Here's a list of scheduled chicken-keeeping classes:
- April 23: 10 a.m., Mueller Farmer's Market, 4209 Airport Blvd.
- May 13: 10 a.m., Sunset Valley Farmer's Market, 3200 Jones Road.
- May 24: 6 p.m., Triangle Farmer's Market, 4600 Guadalupe St.
- June 18: 11 a.m., HOPE Farmer's Market, 412 Comal St.
- July 29: 1 p.m., Recycled Read, 5335 Burnet Rd.
Anyone can take the classes, but only City of Austin customers who pay the “clean community” fee on their utility bills and who have not already received a home composting rebate are eligible for the rebate.
You can visit austinrecycles.com for more information. Residents with composting-related questions can also email composting@austinrecycles.com.
About the Author
