Keeping Hens in the City

Growing awareness of animal welfare issues associated with intensive farming has led many to question the ethics of buying the cheapest eggs and/or chicken meat available. However, this factor alone is surely not sufficient explanation for the recent rise in popularity of keeping hens in urban gardens. It is now perfectly possible to buy ‘ethically’ sourced meat and eggs. It costs a lot though doesn’t it? Well, yes, but if you think keeping your own chickens is going to be cheaper then it’s time to think again.

There is only one good reason for keeping hens (it has nothing to do with economics) and that is a genuine love of chickens. And what’s not to love? Chickens are fascinating, fun and relatively easy to keep. Sure, there are material motivations – fresh eggs for one – but chickens are not ultra-cheap when kept properly and they are highly unlikely to pay for themselves when stocked at low intensities.

So, while chickens take you one giant step closer to the good life, the only real reason to keep urban hens is because you want to. They gladden any garden (not least with the handful of rich manure that they produce each day) and each hen has its own distinct, entertaining personality that gives you something more interesting than a garden gnome to look at while sitting in the garden on a summer evening.

If you do decide hens are for you, Caring Creatures is here to help. Browse our selection of chicken articles. Plus, join our extremely friendly community of caring creatures to meet and chat to other chicken lovers.