The 5th annual tour of Intown’s funky chicken coops is set for Oct. 6-7. The Urban Coop Tour will be noon to 5 p.m. both days, rain or shine.

Backyard chickens are popping up across Atlanta neighborhoods, with families, community gardens and neighborhood co-ops getting in on the action. The dual benefits of farm fresh eggs and reclaiming ownership of the food chain have inspired hundreds of people to get involved. You can’t get any more local than walking outside to gather your own eggs….and the chickens are pretty cute, too.

The Wylde Center and Georgia Organics are teaming up to present tour, traveling through Decatur/Oakhurst, Candler Park, East Atlanta, Reynoldstown and Grant Park.

From chicken McMansions to jewel box coops in tiny spaces, the tour highlights the variety of ways these new urban farmers are raising their girls. The coops are often living works of art, situated in organic gardens as part of wider sustainability and permaculture efforts.

Coop owners will guide the tours and discuss their chicken-raising experiences. If you are thinking about keeping chickens in your own backyard, you’ll get some great ideas.

Tickets (good both days) are $25 day of the tour, $20 in advance ($15 for Wylde Center and Georgia Organics members). For tickets, visit urbancooptour.com.

Collin Kelley has been the editor of Atlanta Intown for two decades and has been a journalist and freelance writer for 35 years. He’s also an award-winning poet and novelist.