Several towns and cities across Belgium are giving residents an unusual gift—live chickens. However, those receiving the birds must pledge not to eat them immediately and ensure their proper care.
The initiative, aimed at reducing food waste, has seen thousands of chickens handed out in cities like Antwerp, Mouscron in Hainaut province, and Limburg, according to a report by the BBC.
In Limburg alone, more than 2,500 families adopted hens in a single year. Meanwhile, Mouscron has given away 50 pairs of chickens in its second phase of the program after an overwhelmingly positive response to the initial round.
The idea is not entirely new, with similar initiatives already in place in various towns and villages in France.
A Pledge for Sustainability
The scheme requires recipients to sign agreements ensuring they will not consume the chickens for at least two years. Additionally, households must demonstrate they have sufficient space to accommodate the birds and receive basic guidance on poultry care.
The initiative aims to combat food waste, a significant contributor to methane emissions. Chickens are known to consume kitchen scraps that would otherwise end up in landfills.
On average, each chicken can eat up to 150 grams of bio-waste per day, significantly reducing organic waste disposal.
A similar program was first introduced in 2012 in Pincé, a small town in northwestern France. The initiative was later expanded in 2015 by the waste collection department in Colmar, a northeastern French town near the German border.
There, households participating in the scheme had to commit to raising the chickens properly, with authorities even reserving the right to conduct welfare checks. However, residents were required to provide their own henhouses.
Encouraging hesitant participants, local officials highlighted the benefit of free eggs as a potential incentive. Since its launch, the program has remained successful, with all 20 municipalities in Colmar participating.
To date, 5,282 hens have been distributed, and applications are currently open for another round of distribution in June 2025.
Bird Flu Concerns Cloud the Initiative
While the benefits of reducing emissions and offering free eggs make the initiative appealing, concerns remain about the potential spread of avian influenza.
The recent rise in egg prices has been attributed, in part, to outbreaks of bird flu, which have devastated poultry populations worldwide.
Paul Behrens, a professor at the University of Oxford specializing in food systems, cautioned that in some countries, strict regulations require birds to be kept within fenced areas or indoors to limit exposure to disease.
“This may again be a problem for animal welfare, or even disease spread if people don’t comply,” he noted.
In Belgium, avian influenza cases have been primarily reported in the northern region of Flanders. Over the past month, outbreaks have been detected at three poultry farms—one in Stekene and two in Sint-Gillis-Waas.
While there is no blanket requirement to keep pet poultry indoors, authorities advise private owners to shield their birds from potential contamination by covering their enclosures and preventing contact with wild birds.
Is It Economically Viable?
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the project, some experts question whether keeping chickens truly provides financial benefits to households.
Mark Bomford, director of Yale University’s sustainable food program, argued that raising chickens often comes with hidden costs. “Few people realize any net cost savings on eggs by the time the costs of feed, water, housing, space, and time are factored in,” he said.
Nevertheless, for many Belgian residents, the prospect of contributing to a greener planet while enjoying fresh eggs outweighs the potential downsides, making the initiative a promising approach to tackling food waste.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
