Keeping chickens, ducks, pigs, and goats in urban and suburban backyards has grown in popularity, but small-scale keepers often lack the knowledge and resources for good welfare outcomes.
Backyard livestock keeping can deliver good welfare outcomes when keepers have adequate knowledge, resources, and commitment — and poor ones when the initial appeal of urban farming outpaces the sustained dedication required. The most common welfare failures include keeping social species in isolation, inadequate nutrition, failure to access veterinary care for sick animals, and poor-quality backyard slaughter. The animals most at risk are those kept by well-intentioned beginners who underestimate the demands of livestock husbandry. Better pre-acquisition education, access to peer support networks, and clear guidance on species-appropriate social housing and veterinary care requirements would reduce welfare failures in this growing sector.