Backyard chicken site

Chickens can be an integral part of a permaculture design. They are omnivorous and have several different yields (meat, eggs, manure). They are one of the animals that is possible for anyone to keep (as opposed to larger livestock).

I stumbled across a site (via the the Permaculture institute's urban permaculture page) all about urban chickens. The City Chicken is chock full of good information:

You can have chickens...It's easy! I put up this page to inspire people who have been wanting to keep some chickens in their backyard. I hope the pictures and info will motivate you to try what you've been wanting to for a long time: Bring a little country into your city life. You are looking at this web site because you've been bit by the chicken bug and need to know how to get started with your chicken-keeping endeavors. Well, you could start here!

Petition to Allow Longmont Residents to have Backyard Chickens

Chickens are a key component species of many a permaculture design. They provide many useful outputs (poop, eggs, meat, amusement, etc) in a compact space, as well as consuming much of our food waste.

Longmont apparently does not allow backyard chickens currently (see section 15.04.030 "Accessory uses" of the Longmont City Code). But now there's an online petition, a yahoo group, and a blog trying to convince the city council to change this rule.

If you're interested, get involved.