As for the decapitated birds, that is so odd. I'm trying to envision how something like that happens...

According to my landlord, it's Santeria.

geli wrote:

As for the decapitated birds, that is so odd. I'm trying to envision how something like that happens...

According to my landlord, it's Santeria.

I suppose there are outlying practices of any religion, but most santeros use animal offerings only in the most dire of circumstances (e.g., need to cure someone from life threatening illness) and, when they do so, the animal is eaten as part of a ceremonial meal.

At my grandmothers house she used to keep laying hens and I loved to go out and gather the eggs when I visited her. To this day she still maintains that store bought eggs are 'bad tasting' and she has a neighbor that brings her two cartons of fresh eggs a week as at the age of 85 she's given up keeping chickens anymore.

I've often thought about keeping a hen or two for eggs myself but my neighbor went through a year of endless harassment over keeping his chickens a year or two ago and I don't know if I'm up for that fight. He used to keep about 5 chickens for fresh eggs and he also kept two bee hives for honey and he had a neighbor that constantly bombarded him with complaints to various county offices about how it was 'unsanitary' to keep 'livestock' in a residential area.

FWIW, I never found his coop to be messy or unsanitary and I appreciated the fresh eggs that he'd bring over to share with me. Sadly he got tired of the constant complaining and ending up taking down his bee hives and getting rid of his hens.

It's true that not all neighbors will have an open mind, I think that many could be brought around if the would-be chicken owner approached them with respect and consideration before getting the hens. There are so many misconceptions that are often at the core of people's concerns, that I think to raise these concerns yourself with your neighbors, to answer them with real evidence (such as books, articles, etc.) validates those concerns and lets your neighbors know that you are diligent about doing your homework and being a good neighbor. Once tentative approval can be gained, providing some fresh eggs is always a deal-clincher.

Also, again, if anyone would like to meet a few hens in person, as an advocate, I would be happy to have you visit and, if you don't live too far away, I might be available at some point to introduce mine to any reluctant neighbors. Most people find them to be more beautiful, docile, quiet, and clean then they had imagined. This, I'm sure, is due to images we have all seen of disgusting chicken factories teeming with many thousands of filthy birds.

Steven

My 2 cents is the birds found in Humbolt Park were probably cock fight losers.

AngrySarah wrote:My 2 cents is the birds found in Humbolt Park were probably cock fight losers.

Admittedly, my first thought as well, although it could have also been a stray dog roaming the park. (I guess that still leaves the mystery of why there are chickens in the park in the first place - but I've seen chickens in Humboldt Park yards.) My dog is a former stray and he will gladly hunt if he gets the opportunity (i.e., fat bird too fat to fly), and he does prefer the head portion. These events (which are thankfully seldom) are not at all fun for me.

I was just sent information on a meeting in Evanston regarding this issue, thought I'd share:

Evanston Food Policy Council Meeting  Community Potluck and Evanston Food Policy Council Conversation:

Backyard Chicken Enthusiasts....

Following the great success of a workshop on backyard chicken care in Chicago last November (registration was closed after 48 hours), we are pleased to present a discussion about backyard chicken keeping.   It is currently not legal in Evanston to have live poultry, but many municipalities do allow it and there is much interest in raising chickens, primarily for very fresh eggs.  Martha Boyd (Angelic Organics Learning Center) and other experts will present the joys and concerns of being a backyard chicken farmer.

Thursday, January 22, 2009, 6:30 PM Jan. 22, at Wild Tree Cafe.  Bring an entree or appetizer (to serve 8-10).
Drinks and dessert provided by the Wild Tree Cafe (1100 Davis St.).

Please share with others.

I recently found City Farm Gal, a blog by a Chicagoan who is raising chickens at home.

germuska wrote:I recently found City Farm Gal, a blog by a Chicagoan who is raising chickens at home.

Is that what the blog is called? I've always thought of it simply as Ellen Malloy's* blog about her chickens. Anyway, like more than a thousand people, I've been following her travails with raising chickens on Twitter. Very interesting, and Ellen is interesting, per usual.

*Ellen is the well-known publicist for the Kahan/Madia restaurants, among others.

aschie30 wrote:raising chickens on Twitter

Wow, Tweeterer really can do everything.

Kennyz wrote:

aschie30 wrote:raising chickens on Twitter

Wow, Tweeterer really can do everything.

It's true.