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Problems Associated with Backyard Flocks

From Liqin Cao and Franklin Wade, UPC United Poultry Concerns
July 2024

We advise people not to keep chickens if you cannot commit to taking good care of your chickens for their whole life. The life expectancy of most breeds can range from 8 to 12 years. There are many reports of pet chickens living as long as 20 years just like dogs and cats! And just like dogs and cats, chickens do get sick and veterinary care is essential and often expensive.

rescued Chickens
Rachel and Matilda

In late December 2023, two beautiful hens came to United Poultry Concerns sanctuary when their humans could no longer care for them due to personal health issues and desire to go traveling. The two hens looked well taken care of and in good health. They got along well with rest of the UPC flock but kept mostly to themselves. We often found them hanging out in the back, more wooded part of the sanctuary yard, behind the chicken houses. Our long time sanctuary staff named them Rachel and Matilda.

In just a few months, Rachel and Matilda have fully settled into their new home and new family. They are healthy, vibrant, confident and now a part of the flock.

This story has a happy ending, but also calls to mind the dilemma of backyard chicken-keeping. As animal advocates, we want people to get to know chickens as conscious and emotional individuals capable of a range of interests and personalities. At the same time, as the popularity of raising backyard flocks has grown, our shelters and sanctuaries have been inundated with calls to take in unwanted chickens, particularly roosters.

We advise people not to keep chickens if you cannot commit to taking good care of your chickens for their whole life. The life expectancy of most breeds can range from 8 to 12 years. There are many reports of pet chickens living as long as 20 years just like dogs and cats! And just like dogs and cats, chickens do get sick and veterinary care is essential and often expensive. Moreover, taking good care of these birds includes spending time with them…getting to know them and enjoying each other’s company!

rescued Chickens
Rachel, Matilda and friends

Some problems associated with backyard flocks include:

  • Hatchery Practices: Similar to puppy mills, hatcheries prioritize profit over animal welfare, resulting in cramped housing conditions for breeding chickens and their offspring without outdoor access.
  • Cruel Shipping of Day-Old Chicks: Day-old chicks are shipped through postal services without legal oversight, subjected to deprivation of food and water for up to 72 hours and extreme temperatures during transit, causing cruelty and medical issues.
  • Inaccurate Chicken Sexing: Visual identification of roosters among purchased “hens” is challenging, leading to 20-50% misidentification rates, which may result in unwanted roosters.
  • Unwanted Roosters: Roosters are often unwanted due to their inability to lay eggs and legal restrictions in urban or suburban settings, leading to abandonment, slaughter, or euthanasia.
  • Rodent Attraction: Chicken coops attract rodents due to bedding and food, posing hygiene and pest control concerns for owners and neighbors.
  • Limited Veterinary Care: Avian veterinary care is scarce and expensive, with few specialized veterinarians available, resulting in challenges accessing professional medical care for backyard chickens.
Posted on All-Creatures.org: July 12, 2024
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