NEW GLARUS - When the chickens come home to roost, they could be in a backyard in New Glarus.
Urban chickens, also known as backyard chickens, have been coming home to live with city folks more and more across the United States in recent years.
The phenomenon caught on in Wisconsin as well. At least 15 municipalities, including Milwaukee, La Crosse, Green Bay, Oshkosh, Baraboo, and Watertown, now allow hens to be kept, according to data collected by Ron Kean, poultry specialist at the University of Wisconsin Department of Animal Science. Other cities, such as Stevens Point, Racine, and Beaver Dam, have made it illegal.
The Village of New Glarus Plan Commission passed an ordinance Thursday permitting residents to keep a limited number of chicken hens. About six people attended the public hearing on the measure, but none spoke, according to Nic Owen, village clerk. The village board is expected to act on the ordinance April 3.
Owen said the New Glarus ordinance had its origins in the idea of self-sustainability. But chicken lovers in the New Glarus area say the birds make entertaining pets and have interesting personalities - the eggs they lay are just a bonus.
Pam Hammerly, New Glarus, said she has been interested in keeping chickens for quite some time.
"On the West Coast, it's really caught on," she said.
Hammerly said she has not yet made up her mind about keeping chickens, although she had seriously contemplated buying a chicken coop while it was on sale, despite the fact that the village had no ordinance for keeping chickens at the time.
"It's nice to know everything is in place (with the village ordinance), so if we want to," she added.
Farm fresh eggs , with rich golden yolks, are being sold in the area for about $1.50 a dozen, Hammerly said. She wants to have three hens, just enough to supply her and her husband with fresh eggs daily.
The New Glarus ordinance creates a permitting process and sets care standards for village residents interested in keeping chickens. The ordinance establishes the chicken coop, nesting boxes, chickens runs, winterizing, food and water, even the neighbors' permissions.
Hammerly said she has already talked with all her neighbors and they seem to be in favor of her keeping chickens.
City folks seem to be discovering why chickens are popular with many country folks, and not just the farmers.
"I know lots of people who have them in the township," said Kristi Pulvermacher, rural New Glarus. "We love our chickens, and they have been a great first pet for my twin 5-year-olds. Ours are pets first and eggs second. They are an easy pet for kids to take care of."
Fortunately for chicken lovers curious about keeping a few in town, rural New Glarus has the woman who wrote the book, literally, on chickens, Susan Troller. Troller wrote "Cluck: From Jungle Fowl to City Chicks," an entertaining look at the backyard phenomenon.
"I wouldn't say everyone has to have chickens," Troller said. "But chickens can help build a community. You share stories and eggs."
With a growing flock of hand-raised chickens of her own, Troller said the chicken-keeping trend is an addition to the rising interest in obtaining whole, fresh and local foods, whether from farmer markets or home gardening.
"It's a way to control one small part of your eating," she added.
Fresh eggs seem to cost more than store eggs, but Troller said their nutritional value is higher, cholesterol is lower, and taste is "wonderful."
"Factory eggs have become widgets - produced in uniform size for maximum number and not for taste," Troller said.
"I wouldn't say you're going to save money (on eggs). It depends on how elaborate you get with your coops, and if you feed organic food. The chickens themselves are very inexpensive," she added.
Troller noted chickens are catching on as a way for grandparents to reconnect with grandchildren.
"I think they may remember a time when they had chickens. It's the memories, it's a fun way to share, and it's an antidote to electronic devices," she said. "The chickens are something real, not virtual at all."
And the chickens are not oblivious to humans, she added. They willingly interact with us and not just for food.
"I discovered chickens have characters, individual personalities," Troller said. "When they are handled as little chicks, they get accustomed to you. Mine come running to me when I call them."
Urban chickens, also known as backyard chickens, have been coming home to live with city folks more and more across the United States in recent years.
The phenomenon caught on in Wisconsin as well. At least 15 municipalities, including Milwaukee, La Crosse, Green Bay, Oshkosh, Baraboo, and Watertown, now allow hens to be kept, according to data collected by Ron Kean, poultry specialist at the University of Wisconsin Department of Animal Science. Other cities, such as Stevens Point, Racine, and Beaver Dam, have made it illegal.
The Village of New Glarus Plan Commission passed an ordinance Thursday permitting residents to keep a limited number of chicken hens. About six people attended the public hearing on the measure, but none spoke, according to Nic Owen, village clerk. The village board is expected to act on the ordinance April 3.
Owen said the New Glarus ordinance had its origins in the idea of self-sustainability. But chicken lovers in the New Glarus area say the birds make entertaining pets and have interesting personalities - the eggs they lay are just a bonus.
Pam Hammerly, New Glarus, said she has been interested in keeping chickens for quite some time.
"On the West Coast, it's really caught on," she said.
Hammerly said she has not yet made up her mind about keeping chickens, although she had seriously contemplated buying a chicken coop while it was on sale, despite the fact that the village had no ordinance for keeping chickens at the time.
"It's nice to know everything is in place (with the village ordinance), so if we want to," she added.
Farm fresh eggs , with rich golden yolks, are being sold in the area for about $1.50 a dozen, Hammerly said. She wants to have three hens, just enough to supply her and her husband with fresh eggs daily.
The New Glarus ordinance creates a permitting process and sets care standards for village residents interested in keeping chickens. The ordinance establishes the chicken coop, nesting boxes, chickens runs, winterizing, food and water, even the neighbors' permissions.
Hammerly said she has already talked with all her neighbors and they seem to be in favor of her keeping chickens.
City folks seem to be discovering why chickens are popular with many country folks, and not just the farmers.
"I know lots of people who have them in the township," said Kristi Pulvermacher, rural New Glarus. "We love our chickens, and they have been a great first pet for my twin 5-year-olds. Ours are pets first and eggs second. They are an easy pet for kids to take care of."
Fortunately for chicken lovers curious about keeping a few in town, rural New Glarus has the woman who wrote the book, literally, on chickens, Susan Troller. Troller wrote "Cluck: From Jungle Fowl to City Chicks," an entertaining look at the backyard phenomenon.
"I wouldn't say everyone has to have chickens," Troller said. "But chickens can help build a community. You share stories and eggs."
With a growing flock of hand-raised chickens of her own, Troller said the chicken-keeping trend is an addition to the rising interest in obtaining whole, fresh and local foods, whether from farmer markets or home gardening.
"It's a way to control one small part of your eating," she added.
Fresh eggs seem to cost more than store eggs, but Troller said their nutritional value is higher, cholesterol is lower, and taste is "wonderful."
"Factory eggs have become widgets - produced in uniform size for maximum number and not for taste," Troller said.
"I wouldn't say you're going to save money (on eggs). It depends on how elaborate you get with your coops, and if you feed organic food. The chickens themselves are very inexpensive," she added.
Troller noted chickens are catching on as a way for grandparents to reconnect with grandchildren.
"I think they may remember a time when they had chickens. It's the memories, it's a fun way to share, and it's an antidote to electronic devices," she said. "The chickens are something real, not virtual at all."
And the chickens are not oblivious to humans, she added. They willingly interact with us and not just for food.
"I discovered chickens have characters, individual personalities," Troller said. "When they are handled as little chicks, they get accustomed to you. Mine come running to me when I call them."