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Eating In, a series examining food and food culture in New Hampshire, ran May 17-21, 2010.

Chicken-A-Go-Go: An Edible Minute

The humble chicken, that bowling ball with a bad case of feathers, has returned to America's backyard.

Pam Miller in Campton says the urge for chickens is connected to a deeper cultural movement:

We've tried to take care of our energy use with our solar panels and our hybrid car. And the next big thing is the food.

Folks who are not as green-minded as Miller have also become aspiring chicken farmers. Last year, the Dover Agway saw a dramatic increase in the sale of chicks. The Cooperative Extension service says its classes on homesteading poultry have been fuller than ever.

Of course, you have to be careful. Some towns are a little chicken of chickens and you might want to check with the town hall before building your henhouse.

Sean Hurley lives in Thornton with his wife Lois and his son Sam. An award-winning playwright and radio journalist, his fictional “Atoms, Motion & the Void” podcast has aired nationally on NPR and Sirius & XM Satellite radio. When he isn't writing stories or performing on stage, he likes to run in the White Mountains. He can be reached at shurley@nhpr.org.
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