One of our local readers (yes, do actually have “readers” of this blog and not just our friends throwing a little support our way) is involved in what could be the greatest psuedo-political/policy issue of our time. Now, I realize that this is a bold statement, and you may disagree with us when we say this, but here at the Foodie we feel that this issue’s time has come and we need to lend some support.
I’m talking about backyard chickens.
Now, you’ll notice that I said nothing about roosters. And for those of you who have forgotten what was learned in High School Sex Ed, female chickens can lay all the eggs they like without the need for them to be “fertilized.” So sorry Mr. Rooster, you’ll get no attention here on this page unless you can find a way of laying eggs without waking up the neighbors.
This page, is all about the ladies.
So, the story about Tim and Jennifer Jurik can be found on Newsday’s website here. I feel like they tell the story pretty accurately from what Jennifer told me, so I’m not going to bore you with my retelling of the tale. Instead, I’d like to address some of the comments and questions posed on Newsday’s comments page. (Now, for those of you that don’t read Newsday online and have never before been exposed to the comments page on their articles, I warn you now; Long Islanders are some racist fucks. Sorry to use such harsh language, but sometimes it is appropriate given the circumstances. So I’m just saying, read the comments page and be exposed to a new view about your neighbors).
I’d like to start on a point that Tim brings up at the end of the article; that people sometimes see his chickens and wonder what they even are. This is because so many of us have been conditioned to think that chicken comes on a styrofoam plate, covered in shrink wrap and priced per pound. And this just furthers our cause here at the Foodie which is to expose people to where their food comes from. Maybe if people realized that a living, breathing animal has given its life so that you can enjoy that McDonald’s Southern Style Chicken Biscuit sandwich then maybe, just maybe we’d either have a few more vegetarians out there or we could at least prevent some of the sub-human actions that some of our fellow Earth dwellers have done in order to pass the time. Enjoy that hamburger, enjoy that chicken salad, but just pay attention and realize that no, it did not come from the guy at the deli but came from a living animal. Tasty.
The next point I want to bring up is that it’s extremely economical to raise backyard chickens. The chickens themselves are not expensive, especially if you get them as chicks. The Jurik’s 5 birds provide them with about a dozen fresh, organic eggs a week. That is almost a $200/year savings. Plus, after you’ve provided this living creature with a long, happy and healthy life (in which in return is it has provided food to sustain your family), should that animal pass on and leave this earthly domain, the stewed chicken made from this bird would be tremendous. In return for a happy and healthy life, this bird is happy to give it’s all to you as long as you treat it with respect. (Here’s a great article on a new movement involved with giving respect to the animals that we consume)
So we’ve addressed the fact that the chickens don’t make noise (the roosters do) and that in return for a happy life these birds are more than happy to provide you with sustenance to feed your family. Also, their “droppings” are great fertilizer for your garden and they just love to eat all the little bugs and insects that ruin your harvest.
So, to wrap it all up in that fast, curt Foodie style you’ve come to know and love, I will say that Huntington should amend it’s Town Code to allow a small number (less than 10) of backyard chickens to be kept on residential property as long as the chickens are provided with the necessary living arrangements (a coop, water, etc.)
Remember, no roosters.
For those of you interested in backyard chickens and are looking for more information, take a look at these links for more information:
