What Is the ‘Urban Chicken Retirement’ Phenomenon?
- Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:00pm by
Liz Klimas
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With some cities permitting backyard, egg-laying chickens, the issue has arisen of what to do when they're too old to provide eggs. (Photo: Leah Nash/ New York Times)
What happens to old chickens when they’re no longer producing eggs? This is neither a why-did-the-chicken-cross-the-road type joke, nor does it have the obvious answer you may be thinking, which involves a pot inside an oven. Some cities have been increasingly been allowing residents to keep “urban chickens” in their backyard with special permits, but some owners say they have trouble deciding what to do with the chicken when they’re past the age of productivity.
The New York Times reports some chicken owners have formed rather close relationships with their feathered friends, so killing and cooking them is not an option. A “budding phenomenon” for chickens in their golden years is what the Times calls “urban chicken retirement.” This is essentially sending the senior citizen chickens to a sanctuary.
In Portland, Ore., Pete Porath helps with the transition of these birds, calling himself a “half-way house for chickens”:
Mr. Porath, who brokers chicks to feed stores and other buyers from his five-acre farm in Estacada, first began finding new homes for birds as a free service to smooth bad feelings about misdelivered roosters. Now he “rehomes” 1,000 to 2,000 birds a year, most belonging to a unique subset he dubs “the Portland birds.”
“We have rehomed all kinds of stuff. Ducks, chickens, peacocks, turkey, quail, guineas,” he said. “Birds that we rehome out of the city, we have a policy that we don’t eat them.” He says the rule stems from an oft-expressed desire by former owners that the birds spend their golden years on a farm.
(Photo: Leah Nash/ New York Times)
Wayne Geiger told the Times that changing some legislation for those who keep chickens in their back yard could help owners maintain the older, less productive birds while stil bringing in younger egg layers. There are about 525 people with chicken permits in the urban Portland area but the rules say they can only maintain three chickens, no matter what their age. Chickens can live up to 10 years old.
The Times has more insight from attached owners on why they can’t just kill the chickens:
“They have personalities,” [Russ Finley] explained. “And they each have different ways of interacting with you, and they make different sounds.”
Mr. Finley said the five birds he now owns are a home-based food source that complements a vegetable garden. But they are also pets, he said, part of a family that includes his partner, Ray Frye, two dogs and two cats.
“We name them and we hold them,” he said. “I know it sounds kind of crazy, but we kiss them.”
The couple also buy toys for their chicks, and enjoy watching the older birds jump for Cheerios and chase one another around the yard.
(Photo: Leah Nash/ New York Times)
For now, Portlanders who don’t want to kills their senior birds while waiting for a change in permitting rules, can retire them on sanctuaries like Porath’s.
Karen Wolfgang of Independence Gardens told the Times people owning chickens should plan ahead to be prepared for the unproductive years of their egg laying chickens.
Check out the whole of the New York Times’ slideshow of the urban chicken retirement here.
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Comments (81)
MOLLYPITCHER
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 8:46pmA crock pot works very nicely for old chickens. When they’re not too skinny.
Report Post »Steve Crisp
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 10:07pmYes, another problem with modern chickens. (By the way, thanks to everyone regarding the chicken humping lesson.)
When I was a kid, my grandmother and great-grandmother used to make chicken stock all the time. Today, chickens are so lean that you get a watery broth at best. I miss those big globs of chicken fat.
Report Post »kepyurheadown
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 11:51pmInteresting…they don’t want to kill and butcher the birds, which they suposedly ‘love’, but they don’t want to keep the pets they love? Hmmm…
Report Post »I love my old wife (who no longer produces ‘eggs’ either) and won’t send her to a farm ’cause we already live on one….but how do you train an old hen to jump for Cherrios again? That would be fun.
mauijonny
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 2:27amI think they’re feral chickens. Are chickens indigenous in these places???
Report Post »countrysideflair
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:45pmNever heard of a stew hen? What the hell is going to happen to the human race when we forget how food is made? Chickens are the perfect farm animal, they eat bugs, stir up the fields, produce great manure, lay yummy eggs, and after a couple years… they go in the pot or get sold as stew hens (which end up in the pot)
Report Post »9111315
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:38pmI don’t name my chickens until they stop laying eggs — when that happens, I name them Monday or Saturday. Some go to freezer camp to be named latter.
Sure, they are fun to watch and all, but they are food first, pets second.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 8:37pmI feed the spent hens to my dogs, chop them up cook them add brown rice and carrots my dogs go crazy. too much salmonella for human consumption.
Report Post »SpeakUpNow
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 2:36amFreezer camp!!! That’s a riot!!! Thanks for a good laugh. And yes, our “pet” chickens will at some point in the future be signed up to attend freezer camp as well. People. People. They are chickens! Ours have names and personalities and duties (providing eggs to pay for their living expenses). But when they are beyond their abilities to pay their rent they must provide some chicken soup. They are farm animals, not dogs and cats. And no, I am not heartless. I am in fact a big time animal lover. But I also employ common sense.
Report Post »EddardinWinter
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 5:35amWe have forgotten our top tier predatory instincts. There should be no question what to do. Reward their loyal egg laying with a swift death and honor their memories with barbeque sauce.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:26pmMaybe the female chicken just sort of rests with no jumping having to happen. Sort of like sitting on a nest but with the proper chicken parts reachable. Oh, I don’t know, never thought about chickens making it.. Lol. Oh goodness, fer get about it.
Report Post »samnjoeysgrama
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:05pmDidn’t you learn to sing “She‘ll be com’n round the mountain” as a kid? “We will kill the old red roster when she comes,” Next verse: “We will all have chicken and dumplin’s when she comes.” City people are just too removed from the earth and reality anymore.
Report Post »grumpyt
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:41pmYa better learn to eat the damn birds…my grand father on one side and grand mother on the other both had “choppin’ stumps” outside the back door and a BIG pot to heat the water in to help pluck the chickens that quit laying? Hence the name ROASTERS…those that were old and tough.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:19pm“All the human cases of bird flu so far have happened because people got it directly from infected birds. These people lived in rural areas, where many families keep small household poultry flocks that they butcher themselves. Poultry also roam freely in some of those areas, and there are lots of opportunities to be exposed to their infected feces.” NO THANKS on the backyard birds of any kind..
Report Post »Aidan MacAnBhaird
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:59pm@Equaljustice:
Avian flu is passed on by birds when humans come in direct contact with the bird (alive or dead) or with the feces. This includes wild bird feces in the yard, on railings, or wherever it may have dropped, regardless if one can see the traces left. Keeping chickens will not determine if one could potentially contract avian flu. Other animals are also susceptible to various avian flu strains, such as pigs. Hence the rise of H1N1 mini-epidemic.
Just as in the case of West Nile Virus; the oft-stated previous potential pandemic, the virus was transmitted to humans and other animal species, and some perished. But far more not only survived the flu, but never became sick. The reason WNV is no longer a threat to this country is because the majority are naturally immune. That immunity building occurs as a direct result of our intricate but effective imuno-responses. It works beautifully. So go out and enjoy nature responsibly, your immune system will do you proud, unless you have spent most of your life indoors and attached to an antiseptic/antibacterial container. Then; well, you are the weakest link. Goodbye ;-) .
Report Post »country_hick
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 9:39pmFunny thing about all those recalls you hear about… they are from GOVERNMENT inspected facilities. Same thing with the veggies, fruits, beef and dairy…
We grow our own chickens for meat and eggs, have gardens full of veggies feritlized with well rotted manure, hives for honey, get our beef from a friend and eat raw milk cheeses and drink raw milk.
You can keep your factory farm and government inspected produce. I know my food is safe.
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 8:56amWell said, country_hick
Report Post »I’m in my 2nd year of doing the same and it is very rewarding. I KNOW my food has no pesticides(poisons), preservatives(poisons), antibiotics(weakens immune system), hormones(throws body chemistry out of balance), toxic chemicals, GMOs(frankenfoods), or anything else I wouldn’t want in my body.
For now, the home grown food lightly supplements our regular diet, but I’m still expanding and most of the work is in the setup. Once you get it started, it‘s just picking what you want to eat when you’re hungry.
Steve Crisp
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:02pmOK, this is actually a legitimate question I have.
Exactly how does a male chicken nail a female chicken?
Granted, my idea of wildlife is a pigeon and a couple of gray squirrels, but I have seen chickens. And though they have peckers on one end, I have never seen one at the other side. I have seen various types of birds engage in something akin to aerial rape, but have never actually seen a rooster humping a hen. So just how is that whole process accomplished?
Report Post »Tractorboy
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:35pmSame way other birds do it, the male called a (c0ck) will also grab the female (hen) by the feathers on the back of her head, now you get fertile eggs for a week or so, no you do not need a male for a female to lay eggs.
Report Post »pbrfan5948
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:21pm@Steve
The rooster will grab the hen’s feathers on her head and he will stand on her wings as she lays down and spreads her wings to support him and then she moves her tail to the side and he gets her. It takes as about 1 to 1.5 seconds if done right. An inexperienced rooster might get her in about 5-10 seconds. Your welcome.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:24pmThey jump up and down a lot. Try not to miss. Lol. I think…..
Report Post »MOLLYPITCHER
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 8:59pmI have a bantam rooster that does it with my rhode island red hens. Very funny to see.
Report Post »countryfirst
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 8:30amWe have had chicken for over 10 years, not to change the subject but we have two female ducks left (love the eggs) great for noodle making , they are both confused females, in the morning always on top of one another in the pond. So they are called Rosie and Ellen
Report Post »BigdaddyD
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:55pmWe have backyard chickens and have no plans on eating them after they stop producing. as far as we are concerned they are pets, BUT if they quit producing and we have a lack of food guess who is coming to dinner
Report Post »Aidan MacAnBhaird
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:22pmWe take care of that at the onset, BigDaddyD (love the handle). The goat for milk and kidding gets a sweet name, the kids we raise for chevon are named things like “saute” or “panfry”. The sheep, ducks, chickens, and geese are the same way. We have had only one exception. Merry the Sweet Sheep was an Exmoor lamb we got young and wooly. Some of that shedding wool was really his wee manliness, so he was renamed Merriweather the Sweet Sheep That Will Taste Good. We knew he would be huge and the potential for damage while he was in rut too great. Hated to see him go; but by golly, that was a tasty year!
And if you have the room and the funds to keep old chickens around; then, why not? If they are nice, then they just add to the joy of owning a flock. Then again, the way we cull is dorky to some of the farmers around here: if it’s mean, we eat it. Everything is handled gently and lovingly from the get-go. We play with our food before we eat it. If they are aggressive and flying talons or teeth at humans and animals, there is a good chance they will be caught in mid air and not even realize what happened next. Have fun with your flock. If only more would experience the joy and heartbreak of care-taking some of God’s creatures!
Report Post »Steverino
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:49pmAIDAN-
Report Post »GREAT post! Very enjoyable info about your “arrangement”!
Steve
Jenny Lind
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 9:51pmAiden, I like the choice basis. Wish I could have talked my uncle into some roast duck-he had a Mallard take up residence on the farm in Bountafull back when they had water turns. Water came into gardens, younger teen girls got to weed, and I was one. Da.. bird hated us and made our bare legs miserable. I cried tears of joy when “Henry Mallard” bit it.
Report Post »campt1
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:54pmDog food.
Report Post »Vstarrider in Idaho
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:50pmIn Idaho they make great coyote bait.
Report Post »phrogdriver
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:49pmHave we really reached the point in this country where we don’t even know what “food” is anymore?
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:12pmReally, Phrog- isn‘t this just one of the most stupid things you’ve ever read? Just shake my head thinking about some people’s children. American idiocy knows no boundary.
Report Post »grumpyt
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:43pmWe all now live in the state of “Idiocracy”, to steal from a prophetic movie.
Report Post »HTuttle
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:46pmPerfect example of why Liberal societies are destined to FAIL.
Report Post »bumfuzeled
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:37pmIf you can’t eat your chicken, you don’t need to get one in the first place. The saying in Texas is; If you can‘t shoe your horse or shoot your dying dog then you don’t deserve either.
Report Post »aChameleon
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:29pm****-a-doodle BOOM !
Report Post »birddog52
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:28pmTed Nugent could fix this —– Shake and Bake
Report Post »jungle J
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:26pmthe mentally ill outnumber us..only the sane will understand.
Report Post »football lady
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:26pmWould not want these nasty little animals in my yard. Yuk. Only chickens I like are at KFC. My town allowing chickens in backyards. Will drive the neighborhood dogs nuts. But council loves to be PC around here.
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:02pmNot necessarily. My neighbor has about a dozen chickens and my dogs (both high prey drive meaning they like to chase things) ignore them as do all of the other neighbor’s dogs. Even when they get in the yard – now a squirrel, rabbit or a cat, that is another story :)
Report Post »pavepaws
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:29pmJust a curious question. Are these chickens blue and white?
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 9:03amThose ‘nasty little chickens’ are good for yards. You certainly won‘t have insect problems if they’re free-range feeders. They do tend to attract cats, foxes and birds of prey, though. Some dogs will bother them, some won’t- depends on the dog‘s temperament and the owner’s training.
Report Post »AlcoholicMB
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:25pmChickens actually make fairly good pets, but I agree, this is a little silly.
Report Post »birddog52
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:25pmOld chickens are took care of under Obama-care — right ??? Mr Porath should get a grant from the gov. maybe 1.3 billion . I mean dont chickens deserve human rights ???? Just ask PETA . Good Lord just kill em and gut em and make some stew . Maybe feed some of the lazy bums that hang on every corner in Portland . Where’s Ted Nugent when you need him .
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:31pmTed is enjoying a big meal of free range chicken with a side order of bear claws…real bear claws…
Report Post »Blackop
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:33pmOnly four post before Obama gets a mention, in a thread about retired chickens…
Report Post »I swear, Blaze, it almost seems like you have ‘talking points’!!
ADNIL
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:45pmUsed to have chickens and came to the conclusion that if it were not the fact that they laid eggs, tasted good, and were raised by man, that they would not exist. They are so dumb. That being said, we tried roasting an old bird and it was so tough you couldn’t cut the meat with a steak knife, so I took the roasted bird and put it in the crock pot and slow cooked it in a stew for another day or two and it was still tough. Those nice juicy birds you buy from the store are young birds kept in cages their whole lives, but you probably knew that.
Report Post »Boardopopie
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:24pmThe only right answer for this is Coq a vin. Also if you kiss a chicken expect to get salmonella.
Report Post »pd2fly
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:19pmonly in America
Report Post »KeystoneState
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:19pmWonder what the po-folk are up to?
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:32pmFattening their chickens…
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:18pmThis will end when food stamps end. I promise you….Gobble gobble will mean something different.
Report Post »taxpro4u03
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:15pmLet us not forget there were some BRAVE patriots (founders, ya might could say) that resorted to eating leather during a particularly cold winter in 1776 – they knew what freedom meant, I suppose…. wonder what the American ‘Idle’ will resort to “IF” an EMP (electro magnetic pulse) truly knocks N. America BACK into the 18th century…. EVERYthing (for most) revolves around a Tesla technology (electricity) — MOST will be screwed ;-) –
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:14pmWhen you become emotionally attached to a chicken, you have gone beyond my ability to identify with you regarding what is and isn’t natural. Chickens are food, not noble friends. That’s my opinion and others are entitled to their say. Honor your birds as you want, just don’t expect me to pay for it or tolerate your hobby if gets out of control.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:29pmSo I guess you will folow the example of your President and eat your dog?
Report Post »ADNIL
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:47pmDo I love chickens?
Yes, I do.
Boiled,
Broiled,
or, in a stew.
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 5:59pmSome of these comments make even less sense than the article. At what point did I imply I would eat dogs? Note the family make up of the one example cited in the story: “Partners”. I’m not a fruit. I don’t name chickens. I don’t eat dogs.
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