Joy of backyard coops

As the nation grows more urbanized, some city dwellers have found a way to explore their agrarian roots, have an unusual pet, and get a better breakfast all at the same time.

“I can’t understand why more people don’t have chickens,” Chris Dill said from her home a few miles west of downtown Spokane.

An avid cook, Dill likes to use the freshest ingredients when preparing meals. She found fresh free-range organic eggs tasted far better than their pale supermarket counterparts. However, the price was daunting. She and her husband, Tom Angell, an architect, decided to invest in their own chickens and had a beautiful coop built to house them.

“As a society, we’re separated from our food source. We think eggs magically appear at the grocery store,” said Dill.

Their 12-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter love the chickens they christened Fluffy, Hawk and Mango. The family owns dogs, cats and fish, but their daughter, Maia, said, “The chickens are my favorite.”

North Side resident Jason Sevy also loves his chickens. He gets a lot of kids and even adults who want to visit his hens. He said, “I think it’s sad many people have never seen a chicken up close.”

Having originally purchased the chickens as a source of fresh eggs, Dill has been surprised by how attached she’s become to them.

“They’re sweet pets and very sociable,” she said. Owning chickens is an educational experience her whole family enjoys. Their chickens are still too young to lay, but soon the kids will gather eggs daily.

“With proper care and proper housing anyone should be able to own a chicken,” said Blaine Brown, chicken owner and pet room manager at Northwest Seed and Pet’s North Division store.

People often assume all chickens are noisy like roosters.

Hens tend to be most vocal right after they lay their eggs, but they don’t make loud crowing sounds like their male counterparts.

Chickens put themselves to bed at dusk and rarely make a peep at night.

It’s illegal to own roosters in the city, but individuals can own up to four hens, subject to setback regulations.

In addition to offering fresh eggs, and bug and hornet control, chickens provide great fertilizer.

The rich compost results in a more productive garden.

As Blaine Brown said, “I believe there’s a chicken for every person’s situation.”