European cities give away chickens for free to locals: why is this necessary.

French and Belgian cities are giving away free chickens to reduce food waste

In France and Belgium, there is an initiative to give away chickens for free to city residents. In the French village of Colmar, each household could receive chickens that eat kitchen scraps and help avoid food waste. To date, over 5,000 chickens have been given to residents of Colmar, and the program continues to operate successfully.

A similar program is in place in Belgium in the cities of Mouscron and Antwerp, where residents sign an agreement not to use the chickens for food for two years. People with enough space are provided with instructions on how to care for the chickens.

Currently, food waste emissions are a serious problem as they lead to a significant release of methane. In the United States, about 58% of methane generated in landfills comes from food waste. In the United Kingdom, it is not recommended to feed chickens kitchen waste due to the risk of disease, while in other countries, it is legal.

The idea of giving away chickens also has its risks, including the spread of avian influenza and problems with bird care. In the United States, this idea is considered ineffective due to high costs and infection issues.

Giving away chickens may be an appealing idea, especially for those living in regions with high egg prices. However, experts warn about the challenges associated with keeping chickens and the potential for disease spread.

It is worth noting that in the United States, egg prices have reached record highs, and the Finnish authorities did not supply eggs to the U.S. due to bureaucratic difficulties.