Why I Would Raise Chickens • Hacker News Board

Re: Why I Would Raise Chickens

#11

Post by AlgorithmicTime » Wed, Jun 08, 2016, 4:46 PM UTC

bko wrote: post #3

> If you read this article, watch the video above, and answer one question below, I will donate—on your behalf via Heifer—a flock of chickens to a family in poverty. Giving a flock of chickens to desperately poor families sounds like a great idea that will pay dividends for many years. However, I can't help but be reminded of the many charitable programs that sound great but end up having very unusual unintended cons…

Feral flocks of chickens?

Possibly, it costs more to feed the chickens than the chickens provide in economic benefit?

Avian influenza spreads like wild through chicken populations and from thence to poor families?

Re: Why I Would Raise Chickens

#12

Post by crpatino » Wed, Jun 08, 2016, 4:47 PM UTC

bko wrote: post #3

> If you read this article, watch the video above, and answer one question below, I will donate—on your behalf via Heifer—a flock of chickens to a family in poverty. Giving a flock of chickens to desperately poor families sounds like a great idea that will pay dividends for many years. However, I can't help but be reminded of the many charitable programs that sound great but end up having very unusual unintended cons…

In order of severity:

1. Family ends up homeless because there is no legal framework to raise small anymals in urban environments, and the flock is framed as "unruly pets" by abusive landlord/neighbours. Family ends up worse than how they started without help.

2. Family receives the flock, but not any training/resources to tend them properly. Chickens die of illness, malnourishment, or get killed by urban predators (i.e. semi-feral cats). Purpose of the program is defeated.

3. Family just eats the chickens right away, which would be a relief from their situation, but still defeats the purpose of the program.

[Edit: I posted this prior reading the article, and assumed this would be about helping the urban American poor, not the Global poor. I simply could not imagine rural poor people in 3rd world countries not knowing chickens are a good source of income/food. They may still forego the option if they lack other resources to raise the chickens.

So, you may say I stand corrected. Thanks for your polite feedback]

Re: Why I Would Raise Chickens

#13

Post by tonec_ » Wed, Jun 08, 2016, 4:47 PM UTC

bko wrote: post #3

> If you read this article, watch the video above, and answer one question below, I will donate—on your behalf via Heifer—a flock of chickens to a family in poverty. Giving a flock of chickens to desperately poor families sounds like a great idea that will pay dividends for many years. However, I can't help but be reminded of the many charitable programs that sound great but end up having very unusual unintended cons…

I wonder how the local guy or girl selling chickens will take to this idea. This way of 'helping' Africa is so outdated.

Re: Why I Would Raise Chickens

#14

Post by crpatino » Wed, Jun 08, 2016, 4:50 PM UTC

Etarip wrote: post #7

bko wrote: post #3

> If you read this article, watch the video above, and answer one question below, I will donate—on your behalf via Heifer—a flock of chickens to a family in poverty. Giving a flock of chickens to desperately poor families sounds like a great idea that will pay dividends for many years. However, I can't help but be reminded of the many charitable programs that sound great but end up having very unusual unintended cons…

Notice in the video how they're not feeding the chickens by letting them forage. They're always feeding them grain.

Grain in bulk is still cheaper than poultry.

However, you have a point. If poor urban families do not have access to fairly priced chicken feed, they will face the choice of feeding them pet food (at a net economic loss) or cutting their losses and eating all the chickens right away.

Re: Why I Would Raise Chickens

#15

Post by CuriouslyC » Wed, Jun 08, 2016, 4:52 PM UTC

spydum wrote: post #10

maybe I'm missing something, what will the chickens eat? "whatever they find on the ground" is not exactly a strategy for growth, especially if everybody is raising chickens, you can pretty much expect the availability of edible stuff to reach zero in villages. not saying this doesnt work, but it's still an energy in/out problem right, where is the new source of energy?

Chickens can eat bugs, plants and food waste that people wouldn't touch. This would work fine assuming at least a temperate climate (ideally tropical) and small villages with a fairly low density.

Re: Why I Would Raise Chickens

#16

Post by bryanlarsen » Wed, Jun 08, 2016, 4:53 PM UTC

lumberjack wrote: post #9

It is not specified what they mean by "chicken" (age and breed and sex) but $5 seems like really expensive. I know that you can buy baby chicks from an incubator for egg laying purposes for like 3 euro or less in rural western Europe. Breeds meant to be harvested for their meat cost even less.

I get the impression that's for a fully grown chicken sold for meat. I have no idea how big those chickens are. In North America live chickens sell for between 30 and 50 cents a pound. The chickens in the video look like small roasters, definitely under 10 pounds.

Re: Why I Would Raise Chickens

#17

Post by roel_v » Wed, Jun 08, 2016, 4:57 PM UTC

Reading the comments on that post make me weep for the future of mankind. It's like Youtube but worse - because at least on Youtube everybody knows they're being idiots.

Re: Why I Would Raise Chickens

#18

Post by clumsysmurf » Wed, Jun 08, 2016, 5:02 PM UTC

If you want to raise backyard chicks, double check your local chicken ordinances! Unfortunately, even when they are allowed, it can be the source of tension between neighbors:

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/nov/27/nation/la-na-nn-back...

Re: Why I Would Raise Chickens

#19

Post by bko » Wed, Jun 08, 2016, 5:03 PM UTC

tonec_ wrote: post #13

bko wrote: post #3

> If you read this article, watch the video above, and answer one question below, I will donate—on your behalf via Heifer—a flock of chickens to a family in poverty. Giving a flock of chickens to desperately poor families sounds like a great idea that will pay dividends for many years. However, I can't help but be reminded of the many charitable programs that sound great but end up having very unusual unintended cons…

I wonder how the local guy or girl selling chickens will take to this idea. This way of 'helping' Africa is so outdated.

I heard some criticisms of big charity in regards to uncertainty for local businesses. When Tom can show up at any time and dump hundreds of thousands of shoes in your market, it kind of hurts all the long term planning and investment you made into your shoe business.

Re: Why I Would Raise Chickens

#20

Post by eloff » Wed, Jun 08, 2016, 5:06 PM UTC

bko wrote: post #3

> If you read this article, watch the video above, and answer one question below, I will donate—on your behalf via Heifer—a flock of chickens to a family in poverty. Giving a flock of chickens to desperately poor families sounds like a great idea that will pay dividends for many years. However, I can't help but be reminded of the many charitable programs that sound great but end up having very unusual unintended cons…

Bird flue is a big drawback - poultry and humans living in close contact, typically because they live in poverty is how the disease usually ends up jumping to humans (when it doesn't go the normal route via pigs first.)