this post was submitted on 23 Feb 2025
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Despite conflicting laws, a wave of amateur homesteaders have started keeping fowl in the spirit of self-sufficiency

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[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Good. The chickens are surely experiencing richer and longer lives that way. Locally-sourced food is good for everyone, and the proximity to the live animals has the potential to foster empathy. I hope that many people make their own mini farms and share with their neighbors, and that a sense of community grows.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 week ago

...has the potential to foster empathy.

I'm sorry but I think you missed reading the Floridians bit.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Backyard chickens can be vectors for bird flu.

[–] MegaUltraChicken 17 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Florida is just one giant super spreader event, so this checks out.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

Man, cue the memory of that huge beach party they had during COVID...

[–] ThePantser 10 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I hope people plan to keep them indoors otherwise they will just catch it from a passing sparrow or other animals that have been shown to carry it, like cats. Once it jumps to dogs we're all fucked because dogs like to chase birds and dogs live in very close proximity to humans.

[–] shalafi 10 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Y'all making comments that backyard chickens can still get bird flu sound exactly like antivaxxers.

"You can still get COVID if you take the jab! IDIOT!"

I thought my chickens would be immune! So glad you're here to tell us these things!

May I make a modest proposal? 10 backyard chickens presents a smaller threat of rampaging infection than 1,000,000 chickens housed in a single structure.

[–] minnow 17 points 1 week ago

Here's the issue:

These people with only a few birds are less likely to take the time and money to responsibly deal with a potential outbreak in their flocks. Some will, but many won't, and the ones who don't then become a vector for spreading the disease even further, including an increase in the possibility of the virus making the jump to humans.

To be clear the solution isn't to discourage people from keeping chickens in their backyard. The solution is more education on the issues and regulations to require people to keep their flocks responsibly.

But we live in America, where apparently it's an individuals' right to put their whole community at risk. So, I don't know what else to say other than that ignorance kills.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

I have a friend in Arkansas whose community ostracized them for even asking how to protect their chickens from the flu.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Bringing the bird flu risk right into your own back yard! What could go wrong?

[–] The_v 1 points 1 week ago

Next they need some pot bellied pigs as a pet. What could go wrong, living in close contact with swine and birds?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago

But they're anti vaxxers so the bird flu gonna do them right

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

I agree with this in a vacuum I just hope this doesn't exacerbate the bird flu problem

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago (2 children)
[–] otterpop 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Done correctly they are less likely to get it. I think people becoming more resilient and raising chickens on their own is a good thing, even though it slightly increases avian flu risk.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

We're talking about Floridians though.

[–] shalafi 1 points 1 week ago

You can still get COVID if you're vaccinated!

There. That's you.

[–] Today 4 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Farm fresh food for the alligators.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Should start eating the croc eggs

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Chicken nugget happy meals for alligators.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

Actual rugged independence.