Free-range chickens grazing on a meadow at an organic farm. Photo: File.
Australian backyards have seen a steady increase in pet chickens since COVID-19.
When Tahura Munmun, a Wagga-based PhD student at Charles Sturt University, saw how much fun children had with chickens at the Wagga Poultry Showgrounds, she was inspired to study backyard chickens.
It is estimated that more than 400,000 families across Australia keep chickens in their backyard, and it’s not just in the regions.
People outside of the bush have also joined the trend. Frances Du, a Western Sydney local, started keeping chickens in her backyard during COVID.
“We had nothing else to do during lockdown,” she said. ”So we worked on the backyard, grew food and had our own eggs.
“The chickens were a great way to spend time with family. We had a lot of DIY projects in the backyard and a lot of scrap wood. Me and [my fiance] Anders just decided to put some garden beds together, grow tomatoes and other veggies. The chickens made great fertiliser, too.”
Ms Munmun recently welcomed two cute little chicks into her home as well.
The chicks have kept her daughter quite entertained. Like Ms Du, caring for the fuzzy yellow creatures has been a valuable bonding activity for her family.
“One of my neighbours [also have] backyard chickens,” she said. “And I hear the sound of roosters in the early morning.”
Even if you’re not a fan of eggs, chickens make great pets.
“They’re actually really affectionate and make great pets,” Ms Du said. ”They come up to you to be pet and be close when they hear you come outside.
“But they also need a lot of care. Like, their coop needs to be cleaned once a week. And if you’re a busy corporate worker or have a busy city life, it’s hard to maintain that for them.”
Ms Munmun’s goal is to understand how people can better care for the chickens in their backyards, whether you’re keeping them for produce or just as feathered friends.
Learn more about her study here, and fill in the questionnaire if you also have chickens in your backyard.
