The obvious answer is to keep chicken poop off your clothes,
carpet and car. However, the real answer is much more subtle.
When my daughter and I set out to design and sell chicken
diapers, it was born not so much out of a need to literally pamper our poultry,
but rather to share in the growing movement to bring chickens from an agriculture
sphere and into the suburban/urban realm. We wanted to be part of the “Backyard
Chicken” movement.
Our experience with chickens has led us down a path of small
scale animal husbandry, adding pigs, goats, geese and emu’s to our collection
of animals. Yet, chickens are still the most fascinating and practical members
of our animal family.
All other farm additions have required significant
investment in housing, fencing, land and time. On the other hand, chickens are
affordable to purchase, house and feed, while requiring little time.
Yet, despite their economy, they offer fresh eggs, endless
entertainment and built-in composting. Each bird has a distinct personality and
each breed offers unique characteristics and colors, making them beautiful and
intriguing yard ornaments, as well as practical food providers.
As interest in
chickens and fresh eggs continues to gain momentum, more and more towns and
cities are allowing for a small number of hens to grace even a well-manicured
suburban setting. These small zoning changes are in part because people are
treating their small flocks, not as an agriculture endeavor, but rather an extension
of their family and feel they should have the same rights as the family dog or
cat.
That being the case, a chicken that is sick or the center of
attention at a play date, is sure to make it inside the home on occasion. In such events, certain needs must be
addressed…hence the diapers.
Our chicken diapers are practical (or as practical as such
an item can be) but more importantly they are a material example of the way in
which chickens are entering into the suburban backyard. In a world where most
people are completely removed from their food source, often feeling desperately
out of touch with natural food production, the chicken offers a practicable connection
to both, without evoking a huge commitment of either time or money.
Each morning as you feed the chickens the table scraps from
the night before, and collect a couple of eggs for breakfast, if even for a
small moment one can experience the joy of knowing your food. It is a small but
meaningful way to stop the cycle of commercial food production, and it offers romantic
appeal…a small window into the peace and satisfaction of an agrarian life.
Our chicken diapers are our way of embracing and celebrating
what we believe is a powerful and important movement, Backyard Chickens. We
want to be part of a society that values our food and how it is produced and cares
about the lives of all animals. We want to be part of a world where chickens
are pampered!
