Ideas to Educate & Inform Public

[TJinMT]

Hi all -

We're in the process of trying to change local city ordinances to no longer classify urban chickens as "livestock", but to rather allow the responsible keeping of a limited number of hens. So the task force is looking at different ideas to both educate and inform the public about the benefits of backyard hens.

One thing we're looking at doing is putting together a Backyard Hen Expo. Invite veterinarians, feed stores, plant nurseries, poultry supply houses, etc to participate. Have a Chicken Keeping 101 class. Lots of coop manufacturers and hopefully some sample coops to admire - at least, brochures. Have Q&A brochures printed up, a list of helpful websites (

, etc. Perhaps involve our local 4-H kids who raise hens, and can do demonstrations on showing. Maybe even a general-public Hen Show, run sort of tongue-in-cheek but along the lines of a dog show.

Our main thought is to get backyard hens before the public, so they can ask questions, see coops for themselves, look a chicken in the eye.

Other things we are doing are putting out tear-off flyers with our blogsite and contact information, passing out Q&A brochures, garnering petition signatures.

So what have YOUR cities done? I'd love to hear more ideas! Any thoughts?

~TJ in Billings, MT
www.BillingsBackyardHens.wordpress.com

 

[Waddling_Wamplers]

This post is an excellent idea... i am lucky enough to live in a city that "currently has no ordinances against having backyard chickens". But finding that information out was like pulling teeth. There needs to be an open and obvious public access site that would educate people as to the ordinances for/against having chickens.

 

[NightingaleJen]

This is a brilliant idea! It would familiarize people with the idea and remove a lot of the fear, while helping people understand more about chicken-keeping. Will have to file this away...

 

[TJinMT]

Thanks for the support, you guys!

We're also working on a Rooster Relocation Program - both "closed" and "open" adoption formats

, and a Compost Relocation Program... identifying a list of gardeners, master gardeners, and community gardens who would be willing to accept donations of "compost materials" from coop cleanings! The latter being a "call before you haul", guidelines in place, sort of thing. Since not everyone composts, this will be a great way to connect gardeners with a superior compost material supply as well as keep the bio-mass out of the city dumps!