About six years ago, I decided that I wanted to raise some chickens. That was kind of a big decision for me because I had never had chickens in my life. Cats, yes. Dogs, yep. Hamsters, fish, gerbils…check, check, check. But chickens seemed both fun and practical, and a little mysterious.
I had read some books about how much personality chickens have. And, the thought of not having to purchase eggs at the grocery store anymore, simply picking them out of the chicken coop and bringing them inside all nice and fresh, sounded appealing. But I was still hesitant about whether I would actually like having them and whether I could care for them properly without any personal experience caring for them.
Fast-forward and I still have chickens. I find them fascinating and adorable, with each chicken indeed having its own personality. And I have learned A LOT about the feathered creatures in the process.
Interestingly, since then, I noticed an increased interest in raising backyard chickens across the country and have read articles and seen social media posts from many who have discovered that chickens are some of the best pets they’ve ever had. I’ve also come across a number of news articles about towns and cities deciding, usually after a heated debate for and against, to let people own chickens with town or city limits (depending on the area, there is usually a restriction against roosters, and a limit on the number of chickens one can have).
This increased interest in poultry as pets hasn’t gone unnoticed by manufacturers and businesses. I built my first little chicks a Lego house so they would have something that play on. Now, you can find all kinds of chicken toys, swings, and fancy perches on Amazon.com.
The day my local Walmart started selling chicken feed, which meant that I didn’t have to drive all the way across town to Tractor Supply anymore (love Tractor Supply, I do, but the drive there is not fun and the traffic is horrible), I practically had tears of joy in my eyes.
Another company appears to have taken notice of the popularity of backyard chickens. Manna Pro Products, LLC, a St. Louis-based manufacturer and marketer of pet care and nutrition, recently announced the launch of a video series on YouTube aimed at teaching both first-time and established chicken owners basic and advanced care for poultry in their own backyards.
According to a press release, the channel, YolkTube™ by City Yolks, is the latest resource from Manna Pro that expands its social community of City Yolks™ – where urban and suburban backyard chicken owners and enthusiasts can connect with one another on Instagram and Facebook and share tips on living sustainably with their flock.
Below is a short ad for the channel:
Also according to the release, the channel’s launch comes at a time when the hobby is seeing its biggest boom, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with unprecedented numbers of households beginning or expanding their flock.
The Manna Pro initiative was inspired by the fact that roughly 10 million U.S. households own backyard chickens, according to the 2019-2020 American Pet Products Association National Pet Owners Survey, and that most people who own chickens consider them to be pets that are part of the family.
The video topics were selected based on the most popular Google searches related to backyard chickens as well as the most engaging discussion and content on Manna Pro’s City Yolks social pages. In addition to the information provided by Manna Pro, the videos also feature prominent chicken influencers, such as Peaches to Pearls and Modern Hippie Habits, who share their personal experiences, and tips and tricks from their own backyards.
Those interested in backyard chickens can view the video guides and subscribe to the YolkTube by City Yolks channel on YouTube. To see what all the squawk is about with the City Yolks community, follow @CityYolks on Instagram and Facebook.
For more information about Manna Pro, visit www.mannapro.com.
Related:
A treat your chickens might like; or not
Thinking of getting a chicken? Or, already a chicken owner? Here are some tips for a healthy, happy flock
Chickens are complicated and pretty bright too.
They really are. I’m still learning as I go, especially because different breeds have different traits.