Sacramento gardening activists want to take urban agriculture to the next level and legalize raising chickens in your back yard. "It's really been a hot topic lately," said Jaclyn Hopkins, volunteer coordinator for Environmental and Agricultural Taskforce Sacramento. "A lot of cities are changing their regulations to allow chicken-keeping, and Sacramento's on it's way." EAT Sacramento and its partner group Campaign to Legalize Urban Chicken Keeping (CLUCK) were founded this year to advocate... cheyacary pacificpikachu comment-59739 2011-11-05T18:18:34Z 2011-11-05T18:18:34Z Chickens make truly wonderful pets. They are so fun and relaxing to watch, and have much sweeter personalities than most people expect. I've had chickens for fourteen years now, and I feel like I'm constantly learning new things about them and seeing more amusing antics. I actually work with Animal Place, and we rescue and rehome hens who would otherwise be killed. Here's our adoption form if you'd like to apply to adopt some: http://animalplace.org/adoptable_birds.html I would be happy to answer any questions you may have about them or our program. My number is (530) 798-5115 and e-mail is Kristin@AnimalPlace.org. We have a facility in Vacaville and a facility in Grass Valley. pacificpikachu 2011-11-05T18:18:34Z suzy comment-48998 2011-04-11T23:24:14Z 2011-04-11T23:24:14Z Hi there...we just aquired a small flock of four in our suburban Ovale backyard and just love them...fresh eggs daily and nonstop entertainment. I want to know if I am breaking the law. I also would love to come to one of your swaps for chicken info and to bond with my fellow hen-loving neighbors. I can be reached at tibbitstribe8@surewest.net thanks a bunch...BAK! Suzy suzy 2011-04-11T23:24:14Z LadellDodge comment-38338 2010-10-05T17:21:47Z 2010-10-05T17:21:47Z Looks like I'm the oldest person to reply. I'm definitely for the urban chicken. I had two "illegals" several years ago that I really enjoyed for all of their benefits, and now hoping that I will be able to have "legals". I say that we make Sacramento just as modern as the other big cities. Ladell Dodge LadellDodge 2010-10-05T17:21:47Z Kirk Parker comment-37929 2010-09-27T18:21:30Z 2010-09-27T18:21:30Z As the printer of the C.L.U.C.K t-shirts, due to the graciousness of one of it's members, Neil Thompson, I'm glad I took time to read this article. The regulations against chicken keeping really don't make since. It all sounds kind of elitist in my estimation. All the while there are no regulations about the humane treatment of chickens and no checks on the grocery stores or restaurants that sell these poorly treated chickens. I did read however, in a brilliant essay by a friend that employees were locked in a chicken plant once to prevent them from stealing while the building was burning. It makes one think a lot about what is valued in life and what's not. Kirk Parker 2010-09-27T18:21:30Z ajlpainting77 comment-37749 2010-09-24T05:15:22Z 2010-09-24T05:15:22Z I live in Fair Oaks in a duplex and I guess it's against code to have chickens! So some of the neighbors are tryin to get rid of them! What am I harming? ajlpainting77 2010-09-24T05:15:22Z jagdedgefarm comment-27818 2010-05-24T01:05:10Z 2010-05-24T01:05:10Z You go, all you cluck-y people!!! Chickens should be a part of everyone's organic backyard agriculture because...because...because there's too many reasons to list. jagdedgefarm 2010-05-24T01:05:10Z Jeaneene comment-27166 2010-05-17T16:27:24Z 2010-05-17T16:27:24Z I think it is so important to have organic farming inour backyards. The chickens provide so much to our soil and our fruit trees and gardens are so healthy and huge. I couldnt even imagine life with out the chicken. They are also our pets. Jeaneene 2010-05-17T16:27:24Z Mark Hall comment-18112 2009-11-22T18:15:27Z 2009-11-22T18:15:27Z The definition of a “Modern City” is changing from the last 50 years to a new sustainable city. Imagine the reduction in the waste stream going into landfills if a percentage of residents kept back yard chickens and fed them table scraps. It adds up! Municipalities should encourage chickens as a way to save money for the city. I make a small back yard chicken coop that makes it fun and easy to start keeping chickens. I hope this change eventually happens. See more at CREATIVECOOPS.COM Mark Hall 2009-11-22T18:15:27Z kkneer comment-12043 2009-08-13T19:02:07Z 2009-08-13T19:02:07Z My friend and I live in Orangevale and have been hosting a monthly "poultry swap" at my house. This is a free event and you can bring chickens to sell, trade or donate. This is our 5th or 6th year and we have definitely noticed a large increase in the number of individuals who are looking for laying hens. While we never know how many or what kinds of animals we will have, it is also a great place to meet other chicken enthusiasts and or to get some "chicken" advice. We also have had a large number of ducks - which if you want to eat eggs, Gourmet magazine rates duck eggs in the top 100 "gourmet" foods. We also now have one woman who brings organic-raised chickens. Our next event is Aug. 22. Call and leave message at: 916.725.6372. kkneer 2009-08-13T19:02:07Z Tina Armour comment-11927 2009-08-11T21:08:17Z 2009-08-11T21:08:17Z Excellent facts about the chickens as pets. Do you know if people in Sacramento have started to keep chickens as pets more often? Tina Armour 2009-08-11T21:08:17Z jmsamuels comment-11681 2009-08-07T19:23:17Z 2009-08-07T19:23:17Z I'm really glad to see this issue covered and to learn about the film screening, but I feel compelled to point out the typo in the fourth paragraph - "Madison City, Wisconsin." Having lived in Madison for seven years before relocating to Sacramento, I often use the affectionate nickname "Mad City" to refer to Wisconsin's capital, but the name of the city itself is actually "Madison." jmsamuels 2009-08-07T19:23:17Z Hawa Arsala comment-11678 2009-08-07T19:10:44Z 2009-08-07T19:10:44Z Great article, Cheya. Do you happen to have links for those Penn State studies? Hawa Arsala 2009-08-07T19:10:44Z George Jackson comment-11662 2009-08-07T15:22:44Z 2009-08-07T15:22:44Z Movies On a Big Screen is just as awesome as when they were in West Sac. Can't wait to see the above movie and Visioneers next week. George Jackson 2009-08-07T15:22:44Z Colleen Belcher comment-11659 2009-08-07T10:23:38Z 2009-08-07T10:23:38Z The Friday screening of Mad City Chickens at the Guild Theater is being put on by Movies on a Big Screen. For more information, read this article: http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/11557/Mad_City_Chickens_in_Sacramento Colleen Belcher 2009-08-07T10:23:38Z