Everybody's talking about backyard chickens!  Evidently it's what all the cool kids are doing these days, and Columbia's City Council is even now debating allowing people in the city to keep them.  Frankly, I don't see what the problem is - what possible issue can come up that isn't already covered by the noise and animal control laws we currently have?  (And no roosters!)  I won't name names, but a certain city councilman was concerned about "hens impeding traffic".  Think about that for a moment - it's always good to start the day off with a smile.

After reading all the cool chicken magazines we've got for you in the Periodicals Department, I want chickens more than ever!  (Er, I've been told I can't have them until I can keep up with the litter boxes for our "indoor livestock" a little more diligently.)  We got three titles just about chickens for you from the newsstand this time - Hobby Farm, Grit's Guide to Backyard Chickens, and Chickens, which is a new magazine just launched by Hobby Farm.  We've got them in a display with lots of other magazines about urban farming, so if you're interested in just how much food you can pull out of the ground in your backyard, come and take a look!

Each issue has tons of great information on every aspect of raising your own chickens.  There are guides to breeds, chicken coop plans, advice on incubating eggs (I'm not sure why step one isn't "leave it to the chicken", but then I guess I'm no expert), guides to other poultry like ducks and turkeys, and even, um, information on turning your hens into fricassee. 

Now, I'd be all about the eggs, but I'm not sure I could, you know, process an animal once I'd named it.  I think any chickens of mine would be destined to die of old age and too much love.  My granny would be ashamed.

There are a lot of reasons to raise your own chickens.  Eggs from your backyard don't require carbon-heavy shipping, you know your chickens are happy and healthy, you control the feed and what goes in it, chicken manure once aged makes good compost, etc.  For me, though, it's all about the eggs.  I want some of those tasty, tasty backyard eggs.  I hear they make absolutely divine custards and that they scramble up very fluffy. 

If you pick up a few of these magazines and decide you want to know more about the fascinating hobby of backyard chicken raising, we've also got plenty of books on the subject!  Browse for them at 636.5.