Don't Count Your Chickens...

... until they're legislated:  Mayor's bill to allow chickens in Annapolis receives support

A crowd filled the City Council chambers Monday night for a hearing on a proposal to allow residents to have up to five egg-laying hens in their backyards. Aldermen said they've been inundated with emails and phone calls from residents about the chicken bill, introduced last month. From some, the egg-layers legislation has drawn more of a response than talks on the city budget.

Maria Broadbent, city director of neighborhood and environmental programs, said municipalities nationwide are seeing a surge in interest in chickens. With the renewed interest in sustainable lifestyles and locally grown foods, many urbanites are looking for a farm-to-table experience as close as their own backyards.

Many grow vegetables and herbs in their gardens already, but say egg-laying hens offer a unique opportunity to "grow" protein. Some residents raved about the chance to have fresh eggs for breakfast and baking. They spoke of the merits of educating children about food.

"Have you ever cracked open an egg and had a yolk that was almost orange?" asked Tony Evans. "That's what a homegrown chicken will give you, and it tastes like you wouldn't believe."

While I have no interest in having chickens myself, I'm not opposed to my neighbors having the freedom to keep them.  I rather imagine that in our neighborhood it is legal to have chickens, and yet I know of no one who actually keeps them (although, to be fair, one of my fishing buddies has had pens of bunnies, quail and beagles).  My guess is chickens are more work than most city dwellers actually imagine, and the number of people who would actually keep chickens in their back yards is negligable.