What is number of backyard flocks in the United States?

[ji]

I am curious how many people are keeping backyard chickens. It sure seems to be a fast growing thing.
I tried hard to find statistics on this but I came up with zip. Maybe I just don't know where to look.
Thanks in advance if someone can answer this for me.
I love the BYC!!

 

[jeaucamom]

There are more than 50,000 member on here, several hundred at least are overseas, but the vast majority are here. And we are growing by leaps and bounds. I am sure we are only a very small percentage of the people who keep chickens.

 

[ji]

WOW!! Thank you for the prompt reply. That is a VERY impressive number for this web site. That helps explain why I can come here any time and find interesting topics on the 'recent post' section.
So a small percentage might mean there several hundred thousand, maybe in the millions of us crazy chicken people?
I hope I can get a hard number from some official source but your telling me about the site size is a good start. Thanks

 

[Illia]

Yeah, BYC is a vey small portion of people who keep chickens, and there are over 50,000 members here. Then, you have to consider the rest who don't use computers, don't really care much on the genetics/breed/etc of their chickens (my neighbor

) and even some who just don't really talk much about it in forums.

The chicken craze surely is a growing thing though - Especially in urban areas.

 

[ji]

Hi Illia,
I see you live in Forks. I live over in Shelton so geographically we are practically neighbors. Good point about the people who don't have computers. LOTS of people live without them although I can't imagine it for myself. What a great resource.
Well, we have rain coming Illia, I don't know about your chickens but I know mine will be hanging out in the coop and underneath it untill there is a break in the weather. The only thing they hate more is snow. They will NOT go out in even a little snow.

 

[canada-goose]

Quote:
50,000, not 500,000.

 

[Illia]

Quote:
Hahah - You should go join the Washingtonian thread then.

It is nice seeing more locals around. I think my chickens are so used to the rain by now. . . The only thing they hate is hail. They have yet to experience snow.

We haven't had snow since our first and last Bantams far over a year ago.

 

[Illia]

Quote:
50,000, not 500,000.

WOW that is the second time I said that too right?

Perhaps I use the edit button. . .

 

[canada-goose]

Quote:
50,000, not 500,000.

WOW that is the second time I said that too right?

Perhaps I use the edit button. . .

Oh well. We all make mistakes.

 

[Royd]

Did I miss that question, on the Census?