We had a discussion at work about fresh local eggs. One comment made was that some people prefer not knowing “where the eggs come from”. My attitude is that eggs are so much better from free range, (sure they eat bugs and stuff), and they are so much better for you too…
- Image by Dystopos via Flickr
Mother Earth News reports that free range, pastured eggs contain (as compared to commercially raised factory farm eggs):
- 1/3 less cholesterol
- 1/4 less saturated fat
- 2/3 more vitamin A
- 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
- 3 times more vitamin E
- 7 times more beta carotent
- 4-6 times more vitamin D
via Urban Chickens: in praise of nutritious yard fresh eggs.
Our family is still committed to bringing the idea of Urban Chickens to communities in the Kootenays, starting with Castlegar, our home. After a long discussion with a local reader about the proposed gaming centre in Castlegar, I received a comment agreeing with many of the things I present here on UrbanWorkbench, including the idea of hens in Castlegar.
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If you enjoyed this post, why not try these ones:
- Calgary Chickens
- Backyard Chickens
- Chicken Week in Castlegar
- Goat Talk About Town
- No Kidding – Goats in the Castlegar Current
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I am totally stoked because my SIL has a co-worker who lives on a farm in Paterson and sells her own free-range, chemical-free eggs for $3/dozen! I should be getting some this week!
I often get free-range eggs from local families – looking forward to having our own hens though. Got to look after your farmer too, make sure they have a reason to stay in business.
Would your neighbors mind? If not, and you had a couple hens, would the city make an issue out of it? Most munis are reactive rather than proactive about things that are not a safety issue or do not impact operations, so perhaps nothing would come of it. I have a friend in Kamloops who simply asked the neighbours if they would mind – the neighbours figured it was a good idea and got a couple as well, and it has simply become accepted on his street! After all, politicians are not looking to make enemy’s for no reason….
The Castlegar Animal Control Bylaw prohibits chickens. I agree that it shouldn’t be a big deal, but where there’s a bylaw prohibiting it, (and fines), municipalities have been known to go to inordinate lengths to enforce them. I find it amusing that the same bylaw prohibits the keeping of rabbits, yet I know people who keep them as pets.
Looks like this issue is going to be brought back to council in the near future – hopefully they’ll see that there is minimal disturbancew and negligible risk from keeping “non-traditional” animals (ie not cats and dogs) in residential areas.