SOMETHING TO CLUCK ABOUT

Urban Coop Tour showcases city chicken farms

e Wylde Center will host the 7th annual Urban Coop Tour on March 29-30 from noon to 5 p.m. each day.

Local chicken owners will open their gardens to the public for a close-up look at a dozen distinct coops around the city. Owners will be on hand to answer questions and discuss their experiences caring for a backyard ock.

e featured coops range from artistic to utilitarian and vary in size. Many of them are key components of an edible landscape, or serve as a focal point for the garden. e tour is self-guided and will be held rain or shine.

Advance tickets are $20 or $25 the weekend of the Tour, and may be purchased at wyldecenter.org.

“We have featured chickens in the Oakhurst Garden for several years, and they are very popular, especially with our young members and visitors,” said Stephanie Van Parys, executive director of the Wylde Center. “More and more city-dwellers are discovering that it is possible, and enjoyable, to raise their own chickens.”

Van Parys said the dual bene ts of farm fresh eggs and reclaiming ownership of the local food chain have inspired hundreds of people in and around Atlanta to give chicken raising a try.

“Plus, the chickens eat insects as well as some kitchen scraps, providing an environmental bene t, along with the fresh eggs,” she said.