Fun With the Chicken Fad
Even knowing man has been to the moon, who out of us commoners could ever imagine such an ultra high tech break-through as "diapers for chickens?" This is surely welcome news for the "Chicken People" of Whitefish.
Last December I wrote here of their City Council pondering passage of an ordinance allowing all residents within city limits to have "up to three" female chickens living on their property… but with no rosters. Checked last week to verify passage and that ordinance is in the books. How many folks in the "The Fish" are flocking into the fryer and egg business, we do not know; HOWEVER, we have learned at least two national companies, "Chicken Diapers.com" and MyPet Chickens.com" are selling nappies, "To people who want their birds to bunk with them." (Time magazine of Aug. 17). These products must be for use by city dwellers who don't want their chickens cooped up. There was no info regarding the cost of chicken diapers, so naturally assume it is a "poultry" sum.
In that December column I was admittedly making fun of Whitefish's plan, sort of egging them on. Even compared it to San Francisco's new ordinance ordering police to leave the 'street chicks' alone. My cavalier attitude making it all seam like a big yolk was premature. Turns out this "urban agriculture business' is widespread and growing, with the San Francisco Bay area among leading cities. They like chickens down there, especially good layers.
A lady farmerette in Oakland has six goats who graze her 1,000 square foot yard and spend time on the balcony of her second story apartment. Has no people kids. An Atlanta based "Chicken Whisperer" hosts a chicken radio show six days a week and it is so popular, he's going to start another one for turkeys … getting rich in a fowl business. Within Seattle City limits you can keep up to three miniature goats if you have 5,000 square feet of yard. For hare raising news consider this, Atlanta allows up to 75 rabbits on a residential property even though is has some citizens hopping mad. Back in Oakland, geese and chicken residents are accepted as long as they stay 20 feet from any dwelling. This law against keeping them in the house sorta rules out the need for diapers in that specific marketing area.
Detroit residents are active in urban ag, including raising bees. One high school principal there reports her academy for teenage girls actually has a 'small farm" next to campus with several kinds of animals and poultry, plus a pig "they are going to eat." Principal Asenath Andrews is quoted in Time as saying she "… hopes farming teaches the girls to be more entrepreneurial, and well-rounded moms." Seems like the way they're raising food, everybody could end up 'well-rounded'."
Briefly talked over this idea of home-grown meat and eggs with First Wife Iris and it doesn't look very promising. She summed up her attitude quite clearly, "Any nest eggs in this family are going to go nestle in the bank, where I don't have to tippy toe through any do-do to get 'em." I didn't have the nerve to mention "the diapers."
Life is good.
G. George Ostrom is a Kalispell resident and a national-award winning Hungry Horse News columnist.