What started as a backyard option to get fresh eggs has quickly moved the backyard chicken from livestock to pets. The pet food industry is responding to this growing trend.
Source: Petfood Industry, January 27, 2020. Link. In APPA’s survey of 10,090 current pet owners:
- 10 percent reported owning backyard chickens: this equates to approximately 10 million U.S. households.
- Owners of other pets were more likely to own poultry.
- Households with young children also were more likely to have poultry pets with 12% of respondents versus 6% in homes without little kids.
INSIGHTS: Retailers are not likely to be able to provide the education required to manage this growing intersection between traditional pets, poultry, wildlife and people. We urge veterinarians to assertively work with local media, Extension services, 4-H and FFA leadership and county fair boards to help poultry hobbyists understand the biosecurity issues and measures to managing backyard birds.