Over a century ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture asked Americans to keep two hens per household member to support food security in wartime. After World War II, peace brought prosperity and patterns of consumerism that shooed hens—once a civic duty—out of urban and suburban neighborhoods. But today, backyard henkeeping is making a comeback. Motivated by desires to connect with nature, produce fresh eggs, reduce waste in the landfill and teach kids about the sources of food, Nashvillians are inviting chickens into their suburban and urban lives.
Last March, an informal group of henkeepers known as the Nashville Hen Chicks invited poultry-curious visitors on a “coop crawl” of five backyards in Belle Meade, Belmont, Sylvan Park, Green Hills and Whitland. Organized by University School of Nashville’s Evening Classes program, “What the Cluck! The Joys and Challenges of Keeping Urban Hens” led Edible to coops that ranged from earthy to elegant. The Hen Chicks were on hand to welcome us, introduce their micro-flocks and offer a few tips for aspiring henkeepers. Here’s what the Hen Chicks told us: