Farming

Summary:
Keep as many Buff Orpington chickens, including at least one rooster, as is prudent given local laws and circumstances. Store a years supply of food for them in the form of human food.

Post:
In normal times, most of us city dwellers probably don't even think about farming. I would like to suggest that, in times of need, we may wish we had. After looking into it, I have discovered that, per ordinance 22-6-10 (c), Orem allows me to keep rabbits, pigeons, ducks, and household pets. If push came to shove, I would probably be happy to eat any of these animals. In addition, per sub article 7 of the same ordinance:


The keeping of hen chickens (no roosters) shall be permitted in a residential zone on a single  

family lot less than one (1) acre provided the following are met:  

a.  

Lot Size:    Maximum number of chickens: 

5000 square feet   2 

7000 square feet   3 

8000 square feet   4 

9000 square feet   5 

10,000 square feet   6 

20,000 square feet   10 

30,000 square feet   12 

b. Chickens must be kept in a predator resistant coop or chicken tractor at night which shall be set  

back at least 10 feet from all property lines. The enclosure shall provide sufficient light, air, and  

space for the chickens. The enclosure shall not be located in a front yard.  

c. The enclosure shall be cleaned regularly to prevent offensive odors from becoming a nuisance.  

d. Chickens shall not be permitted to roam free unless in an enclosed rear yard.  

e. Chickens shall not be considered household pets.  

f. Slaughtering of chickens is prohibited.

Now, just why my friendly city legislators see the need to provide such detail as to what I can and can't do on my own property, I do not fully understand, but this much I do understand, I can keep 6 laying hens in my back yard! 

I believe chickens to be the best form of farming for those of us with limited land and excessive legislature. I like chickens because:

1. They lay eggs. I don't even have to 'slaughter' them to get food from them. In addition, many of the recipes I am used to eating utilize eggs. 
2. They eat kitchen scraps, both vegetative and meaty.
3. They can forage for their own food (to an extent) during much of the year. 
4. They can eat the same food I have stored to feed my family. In other words, I can store a years supply of human food for my chickens and either feed it to them, or eat it myself and also eat the chickens since they will starve if I don't. 
5. They  can reproduce themselves en mass, if you get the right breed. I like Buff Orpingtons since they reportedly don't have all of the natural mothering bred out of them (they still get broody), they are good egg layers, they are a friendly pet, and they are mid sized so the extra roosters you grow actually give you some meat. 

Love,

Ben