FARGO (KFGO) – Fargo has had an ordinance allowing chickens since 2017 despite initial opposition from people who didn’t want farm animals in their neighborhood, but owning chickens has become more popular than ever as a result of the sticker shock price of eggs.
Fargo’s ordinance is regulated closely, requiring everything from a permit to a city inspection in order to install a chicken coop. Only four chickens are allowed and the coop must be in a backyard.
Fargo resident Amy Nephew says their hens are a family affair, so much so the hens even have names, Chicken Tender, Chicken Nugget, Chicken Parmesan, and Chicken Alfredo.
Nephew believes people want to offset the cost of eggs. They also want the joy of raising animals, being more connected to where the food comes from, and what goes into that product.
Nephew says on average, the chickens lay four eggs a day. That’s about two dozen eggs a week, more than her family uses. So, for a small fee, she provides a dozen eggs to a friend or co-worker. That fee is used to buy feed for the hens and – at month’s end – it is only costing them five dollars.
During the winter weather, Nephew says the chickens are protected inside the coop.
West Fargo and Moorhead are among the latest area communities looking at the possibility of allowing backyard chickens.
