Although more respondents in a Backyard Chickens website poll kept chickens for eggs, Rodenhauser, a professor emeritus from Tulane University, keeps his 10 chickens as pets. “It’s a sad story.

It is, indeed. Chickens can be a meaningful part of your backyard garden ecosystem. Before doing anything else, you need to be honest with yourself about your commitment of resources to this project.

Having a coop in your backyard is great If you don't want to pay for eggs ever again. Here's what to know before you become a chicken keeper.

And whether you keep chickens or hens, more means more noise and odor; limit a backyard coop to five to ensure less noise."I'd also strictly adhere to an odor-free practice," she says.

After receiving public comments about the possibility of allowing backyard chickens in the city, Owensboro city staff did research on chickens from cities that already allow the practice. Then, in ...

“We’ve experienced smell, noise, pests, etc., way more from improperly cared for dogs and cats than we have from backyard chickens,” said Rob Ludlow, owner of the fast-growing website ...

Darby Doyle, a backyard chickener of 12 years, said social media images don't paint a complete picture of the responsibility and costs associated with raising chickens in your own backyard.

If Orange County commissioners pass a backyard-chicken program June 8, the county will join a roost of local governments allowing residents to keep chickens for their eggs. The list includes ...