Well go ahead and knock me down, I can take it.
Some non-country dwellers keep chickens for reasons other than as feathered pets. With increasing (? maybe it's always been around) uncertainty about the economic future, some are trying to become more self-sufficient and readier for the zombie apocalypse or other widespread disaster. If they treat their chickens well (as chickens), study up on proper handling and health concerns, is it so bad?
Now...I don't mean to sound mean or anything but, seriously? Zombie apocalypse?
You do know that zombies are only on the movies, right?
So a few chickens in the backyard are going to help you if there is widespread disaster? In that case, are you even going to be able to feed the chickens..in other words, do you have storage space to feed them until you have to eat them when your food stores run out? After you have eaten them because of lack of food during this widespread disaster...assuming you have a way to cook them with all utility grids shut down and you have no water, no cooking source and have to actually kill your beloved pets...how is this small flock in any way going to help you be self-sufficient? They are a small and temporary food supply, at best. At worst, they are a liability during times of great stress.
Let's put this in practical and easy to understand terms: They cannot produce as much food for your family as a few breeding pairs of meat rabbits, they consume more and require more care than meat rabbits, require more grow out time to butchering age than meat rabbits, they require more space, make more noise, are prone to more predation, disease and sudden death than meat rabbits. They are considered livestock, whereas meat rabbits can be slid under the door, in most cities, as pets...and even if they didn't, neighbors may never know you even have rabbits. They are more prone to parasites, their manure is considered a "hot" manure so must be processed/composted before applying to the garden, and they require more start up costs than do rabbits.
Sure, everyone has a right to keep any animal they want if their city doesn't have any laws against it...not any of my business. But asking for my support to encourage raising chickens in a city setting is something with which I take umbrage...it's nonsense and it has no real, practical purpose.
If you want to be more self-sufficient you will grow gardens and can them, raise rabbits and can them, move out of the city to a place where you can get water, fuel for heating and cooking, and be able to supplement your food stores with wild game.. and can it. "Self-sufficient" and "city life" are mutually exclusive...it simply cannot be done unless you are off grid, have enough space in your yard, have the ordinances on your side, have a private source of water that is not dependent upon the utility grid being operational. If you don't have that, you are merely staving off the inevitable and not staving it off for long enough to merit all the effort and money involved in raising a few chickens.
If you are merely looking for ways to provide extra food for your family, then chickens are probably not your best option...so why have them if that is the express purpose?
It's not "so bad"... but is it entirely necessary and the best option for your intentions?
