Backyard chickens in the United States: A survey of flock owners

Abstract

Although it has become increasingly popular to keep backyard chickens in the United States, few studies have provided information about these flocks. An online survey of backyard chicken owners was conducted, advertised through Master Gardeners' websites, social platforms, and other sites. The survey had 56 questions about flock history, husbandry, health care, and owner attitudes and demographics. Surveys received (n = 1,487) came almost equally from urban, suburban, and rural areas. Most (71%) respondents owned fewer than 10 chickens and had kept chickens for less than 5 yr (70%). Major reasons for keeping chickens were as food for home use (95%), gardening partners (63%), pets (57%), or a combination of these. Rural respondents had larger flocks (P ≤ 0.001) and were more likely to keep chickens as a source of income or for show (P ≤ 0.001) than urban and suburban respondents. Owners thought that eggs/meat from their chickens were more nutritious (86%), safer to consume (84%), and tasted better (95%) than store-bought products, and also that the health and welfare of their chickens was better (95%) than on commercial farms. The majority (59%) indicated no flock health problems in the last 12 mo. However, there was a lack of awareness about some poultry health conditions. Many knew either little or nothing about exotic Newcastle or Marek's disease, and most (61%) did not vaccinate against Marek's. Respondents wanted to learn more about various flock management topics, especially how to detect (64%) and treat (66%) health problems. The Internet was the main source of information (87%) used by backyard flock owners, followed by books/magazines (62%) and feed stores (40%). Minimizing predation was the most cited challenge (49%), followed by providing adequate feed at low cost (28%), dealing with soil management (25%), and complying with zoning regulations (23%). The evidence obtained from this survey will help to determine what information and resources are needed to maintain good biosecurity and improve the health and welfare of backyard flocks.

Biosecurity Strategies for Backyard Poultry: A Controlled Way for Safe Food Production

“…In urban backyard farming, chickens are the most preferred species in the United States. Layer breeds of chickens producing colored eggs, such as RIR, Plymouth Rock, Ameraucana, Orpington, and Wyandotte are preferred (Elkhorabi et al, 2014), although in Minnesota (USA), meat-type chickens are also reared (Yendell et al, 2012). Other birds, such as turkeys, ducks, pigeons, doves, game birds, and guinea fowl are also reared (Beam et al, 2013).…”

“…The reluctance of owners to seek veterinary attention was also noted even in developed countries, such as the United States (2.9% farmers use veterinary service), the United Kingdom, and Chile (Garber et al, 2007;Hamilton-West et al, 2012;Karabozhilova et al, 2012). The urban backyard farmers in the United States mostly use dewormers (coccidiostats) and antibiotics in larger flocks (<20) of birds (Elkhorabi et al, 2014). In Chile, the backyard birds were sometimes treated with the drugs approved for human use, which could be responsible for presence of drug residues in the poultry products (Greenlees, 2003).…”

“…In urban United States, keeping backyard poultry flocks have been steadily increasing in popularity. The study in the United States detected that 31.5% of urban and 30.1% of suburban residents prefer to keep backyard poultry (Elkhorabi et al, 2014). Even a number of cities in the United States, such as Columbia, Missouri, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Denver, Colorado, and Auburn, Alabama have passed regulations allowing chickens to be kept at residences (Bartling, 2010).…”

Assessment of low pathogenic avian influenza virus transmission via raw poultry meat and raw table eggs

“…In a survey of backyard poultry keepers in the USA in 2014 (Elkhoraibi et al, 2014), 18.2% of the keepers reported egg-eating by the chickens in the previous 12 months. crows) rob poultry eggs.…”

<b>Vírus da influenza aviária:</b> monitoramento em aves de subsistência criadas no entorno de sítios de aves migratórias no Brasil

“…Vale lembrar que esta via de exposição é de mão dupla e que aves de subsistência infectadas podem servir como fonte de infecção do AIV e de outras enfermidades zoonóticas para aves silvestres, aves comerciais e, inclusive, seres humanos (ELKHORAIBI et al, 2014;WHITEHEAD;ROBERTS, 2014).…”