Towns in France and Belgium have been giving out free chickens for years to combat food waste – could the idea catch on elsewhere?

French and Belgium towns are giving away free chickens in order to reduce the amount of food that is thrown away. People tend to give their food scraps to their chickens. The program has met with moderate success.

  • JasonDJ@lemmy.zip
    19·
    2 days ago

    Chickens are awesome.

    I never thought I’d be a chicken person, but I love my girls. They are so entertaining, and they have unique personalities.

    I recommend anyone who has the space and means to take care of chickens to get a small flock (they are social, they need friends).

    I’ve got 9. I buy a 50lb bag of feed every 3 weeks for $15 or so. This time of year I’m getting 6-8 eggs a day. I have so many eggs I don’t know what to do with them. I end up giving a lot to friends/family/neighbors. Great way to build goodwill.

    • khannie@lemmy.worldEnglish
      9·
      2 days ago

      What are the noise levels like? From the article it sounds like we have the space but the video on that page does sound quite noisy.

      • JasonDJ@lemmy.zip
        5·
        2 days ago

        It’s not that bad. I can’t really hear them from inside the house.

        They chatter a bit but they only really get loud when they are laying. They each have their own “song”.

        Roosters are loud. My town prohibits roosters in residential zones though. And for good reason…they are loud, and they get a bit rape-y if they aren’t satisfied with their harem.