Not everyone likes the idea of their neighbors raising livestock.  In a recent article published in the Standard Examiner, Leia Larsen examined the issue both in Ogden and nationwide.  Ogden is the largest city in Utah that still bans backyard birds, and one city councilman explained that, "This backyard poultry thing could just be a fad. If folks start taking on chickens in droves, then decide they’re too much work, what does the city do with abandoned birds that can live up to 10 years?"[1]

Lindsey Guba, a proponent of backyard birds, said, “A lot of young people and young families are moving here, who care about sustainability and local food, this is going to be an issue; people are going to look at whether chickens are allowed here or not. And those are the kind of people, not strictly, but you want those kind of people moving here, who care about the community and put down roots.”[2]

Cromar Little, a backyard chicken owner who's held out against the law banning the practice, says, “It's not necessarily getting back to nature, but that concerned interest in where your food comes from and how it’s produced, I think, that has really generated a lot of the interest in backyard chickens.”[3]

Quail require less care than chickens, and still provide great protein.

The small size of quail eggs makes them perfect for use as appetizers.

Chickens aren't the only popular urban livestock birds.  Gordon and Maria Milligan raise quail in their backyard, and say that they "chose to do quail instead of chickens for several reasons, not least of which being how inexpensive and low maintenance they are."  

Gordon built the coop himself, and even adding in the cost of the quail, it only took about $60 for the couple to begin raising their own birds.  While they haven't made any direct profit from the birds, that was never the intention, and they are content with simply enjoying the free eggs.  

Quail are easier to raise than chickens for many reasons.  "As long as their food and water don't run out, the quail are as happy as can be,"  Maria explained.  "They don't need to be let out to run around like chickens, so they spend most of their time in the coop."  Even when the couple goes on vacation, they "just add extra food and water and they're fine."

The eggs are smaller than chicken's eggs, but that can actually be a benefit. "The eggs are perfect for us because with just two people in the house, it's much easier to go through twenty quail eggs than twenty chicken eggs."  

Gordon and Maria absolutely recommend quail raising to anyone who has the opportunity. "The quail are small, quiet, low-maintenance, inexpensive, and good egg-layers. And who doesn't love a twelve-egg omelet or the world’s cutest deviled eggs?”[4]