For Village of Owego resident Tamara Gates, the new “Comfort Cottage Hens” chicken coop in her backyard is a sanctuary of sorts, a place to seek refuge and peace. It’s there she greets, feeds, and spends time with eleven of her new feathered friends.

Tamara explained that when she’s not having a good day, visiting the chicken coop quickly changes her mood, and the experience uplifts her and has become an extension of support for her well-being. Tamara requires full use of a wheelchair due to the loss of use in her legs, and her immune system is compromised due to medical issues. 

Tamara’s partner, Doug Weeks, put his many talents to work in the early spring to build what the couple believes is the first ADA-Compliant Chicken Coop and Run in the state. For Tamara, it’s a welcome addition where she can more easily tend to the chickens.

Backyard chicken keepers often name their chickens, too, as Tamara and Doug have done, and, in turn, become part of the family just like any other animal raised at home.

Read the rest here.

What do you think: Do you think people in suburban and urban areas should be allowed to keep chickens in their backyard?

7 hours ago, Elmira Telegram said:

For Village of Owego resident Tamara Gates, the new “Comfort Cottage Hens” chicken coop in her backyard is a sanctuary of sorts, a place to seek refuge and peace. It’s there she greets, feeds, and spends time with eleven of her new feathered friends.

Tamara explained that when she’s not having a good day, visiting the chicken coop quickly changes her mood, and the experience uplifts her and has become an extension of support for her well-being. Tamara requires full use of a wheelchair due to the loss of use in her legs, and her immune system is compromised due to medical issues. 

Tamara’s partner, Doug Weeks, put his many talents to work in the early spring to build what the couple believes is the first ADA-Compliant Chicken Coop and Run in the state. For Tamara, it’s a welcome addition where she can more easily tend to the chickens.

Backyard chicken keepers often name their chickens, too, as Tamara and Doug have done, and, in turn, become part of the family just like any other animal raised at home.

Read the rest here.

What do you think: Do you think people in suburban and urban areas should be allowed to keep chickens in their backyard?

7 hours ago, Elmira Telegram said:

What do you think: Do you think people in suburban and urban areas should be allowed to keep chickens in their backyard?

depending upon population density(humans) should not be an issue, could likely zone it so no roosters are allowed thus eliminating noise complaints. only other real issue is keeping the coop/food storage are clean/secure to prevent attracting rodents to the neighborhood

I’d have no issues with it other than roosters. Out here in the country you barely notice ours, but in can it being an issue in more dense neighborhoods.

The bigger issue to me would be rodents as @ADAM mentioned. Poultry and rodents kinda go hand in hand and you really have to stay on top of things to keep mice and rats under control.

Other poultry, especially ducks, would be an automatic “no” from me. As much as I love them, they are messy little buggers and their pens can get pretty smelly fast.