France & Belgium Address Food Waste, Egg Scarcity With 'Food Scrap Chickens'
20 April 2025 · Uncategorized ·
Source: · https://technews.tw/2025/04/05/the-european-towns-that-give-away-free-chickens/
Recently, America has experienced soaring egg prices and shortages due to widespread outbreaks of avian influenza that began last year; these events have even led to instances of illegal cross-border smuggling.
In 2023, Taiwan also confronted an egg shortage crisis stemming from bird flu and rising international raw material costs—a situation marked by empty supermarket shelves.
To mitigate the impact of fluctuating egg prices or market shortages caused by external factors, residents in some towns across France and Belgium have proposed a unique solution: obtaining hens directly from their local governments.
Raising chickens has become increasingly popular among French households in recent years. In cities like Colmar, located in northeastern France, municipal authorities even offer free hens to citizens.
This initiative was spearheaded by Gilbert Meyer during his tenure as president of the city’s agglomeration; he pledged “one hen per family” as part of his campaign platform. Following his re-election in 2015, he launched a program that partners with two poultry farms to distribute chickens—subject to conditions such as ensuring adequate space for their care.
Colmar is not an isolated example: other cities like Pincé have also implemented similar programs since 2012, aiming to reduce organic waste. In Belgium, analogous projects exist in Mouscron and the provinces of Antwerp and Limburg; these initiatives require residents to demonstrate sufficient yard space before receiving a hen.
Beyond providing fresh eggs, raising chickens offers additional advantages such as reducing food waste by consuming kitchen scraps that would otherwise be discarded. However, potential challenges remain—including noise complaints from densely populated urban areas and concerns about the possible spread of avian influenza.
In 2023, Taiwan also confronted an egg shortage crisis stemming from bird flu and rising international raw material costs—a situation marked by empty supermarket shelves.
To mitigate the impact of fluctuating egg prices or market shortages caused by external factors, residents in some towns across France and Belgium have proposed a unique solution: obtaining hens directly from their local governments.
Raising chickens has become increasingly popular among French households in recent years. In cities like Colmar, located in northeastern France, municipal authorities even offer free hens to citizens.
This initiative was spearheaded by Gilbert Meyer during his tenure as president of the city’s agglomeration; he pledged “one hen per family” as part of his campaign platform. Following his re-election in 2015, he launched a program that partners with two poultry farms to distribute chickens—subject to conditions such as ensuring adequate space for their care.
Colmar is not an isolated example: other cities like Pincé have also implemented similar programs since 2012, aiming to reduce organic waste. In Belgium, analogous projects exist in Mouscron and the provinces of Antwerp and Limburg; these initiatives require residents to demonstrate sufficient yard space before receiving a hen.
Beyond providing fresh eggs, raising chickens offers additional advantages such as reducing food waste by consuming kitchen scraps that would otherwise be discarded. However, potential challenges remain—including noise complaints from densely populated urban areas and concerns about the possible spread of avian influenza.