When I brought three chicks home last spring, I expected fresh eggs to be the biggest reward. But Mildred, Barbara, and Mamie Lee—a Barred Rock, Columbian Wyandotte, and Easter Egger— have also become beloved family pets, following me around, perching on the porch swing, peering in the window and eating mealworms out of my hands.
![City Chicks](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/4712/213402/58c7ad541eaa0/City-Chicks.jpg)
My fascination with a backyard flock is not unique.
At Renfrow Hardware in Matthews, owner David Blackley has seen an increase in the number of chick purchases, and his chicken-keeping classes attract sellout crowds.
“More people want to know where their food comes from,” he says, “and raising chickens is a real pleasure.”
Cheeping chicks are hard to resist. Before getting caught up in the cute factor, remember that chickens can live up to 10 years (though the average is three to four) and require constant care. You don’t need a rooster to get eggs—good news because, although roosters are allowed in Charlotte, their loud cock-a-doodle-do could attract the ire of neighbors and violate the local noise ordinance, resulting in a fine. Your chicks will do fine without a man. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re considering keeping chickens at home:
Denne historien er fra Spring 2017-utgaven av Charlotte Home & Garden.
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Denne historien er fra Spring 2017-utgaven av Charlotte Home & Garden.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![An Antique Garden](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4712/240380/59cb7bebc8931/crp_An-Antique-Garden.jpg)
An Antique Garden
Building a historic garden for a historic home
![Make Water Conservation A Habit](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4712/240380/59cb80d032374/crp_Make-Water-Conservation-a-Habit.jpg)
Make Water Conservation A Habit
Make Water Conservation A Habit
![Back-To-School Saviors](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4712/240380/59cb869f250bd/crp_Back-to-School-Saviors.jpg)
Back-To-School Saviors
Back-to-school excitement can also breed some serious chaos in your home, with extra paperwork, bookbags, uniforms, and more taking over most spaces. Organizing it all in a way that actually makes sense—and is easy to find again—can be dizzying. Here, five local designers share their tips on how to get back-to-school organized.
![From Bright Lights To Bold Strokes](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4712/198726/588f5c43dbfd1/crp_From-Bright-Lights-to-Bold-Strokes.jpg)
From Bright Lights To Bold Strokes
Erika Eckerson was a broke TV news anchor with a bare living room wall in her Myrtle Beach apartment when she decided to buy a canvas, acrylic paint, and some brushes.
![A Merry Manor](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4712/198726/588f5f8a4afe9/crp_A-Merry-Manor.jpg)
A Merry Manor
Brittany and Steve Clyne want their guests to feel cozy
![Sitting Pretty](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4712/227207/5951e8f53aa31/crp_Sitting-Pretty.jpg)
Sitting Pretty
Olivia Smith started as an intern at Traditions the summer before her senior year at Olivet Nazarene University, the Illinois school where she studied interior design.
![A Glamorous Era](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4712/227207/5951ef079a3b2/crp_A-Glamorous-Era.jpg)
A Glamorous Era
As a member of a religious and ethnic minority in a Southern town, Robert Goldberg, a Jewish man, knew discrimination.
![In the Family](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4712/185986/5811983fa7910/crp_In-the-Family.jpg)
In the Family
Lane Brown designs a home for her parents.
![Playing Architect](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4712/185986/58119ec9d2e48/crp_Playing-Architect.jpg)
Playing Architect
A homeowner has a modern vision for a traditional home.
![City Chicks](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4712/213402/58c7ad541eaa0/crp_City-Chicks.jpg)
City Chicks
When I brought three chicks home last spring, I expected fresh eggs to be the biggest reward. But Mildred, Barbara, and Mamie Lee—a Barred Rock, Columbian Wyandotte, and Easter Egger— have also become beloved family pets, following me around, perching on the porch swing, peering in the window and eating mealworms out of my hands.