NAHMS Studies on Small-Scale Operations
NAHMS conducted its first Backyard Animal Keeping Study in 2024. Results from this study produced national estimates on the percentage of adults who kept poultry, pigs, goats, or rabbits.
The NAHMS Backyard Animal Keeping 2024 study was designed to provide a snapshot of current animal management and biosecurity practices for adults who kept poultry, pigs, goats, or rabbits. All participants were asked opinion questions related to backyard poultry as well as questions about their intention to own any of the four species of interest in the future if they did not already keep that species. Questions were also asked about composting, food security, and any contact with live poultry for non-poultry keepers.
A second survey was conducted in Denver, CO, and Miami, FL, which estimated the percentage of adults in urban areas who kept chickens, pigs, goats, or rabbits. The survey also examined participants’ beliefs about chicken ownership and changes in those beliefs between the NAHMS Urban Chicken Study in 2010 and 2024.
This study adds to our knowledge about backyard animal keeping and improves our understanding about risks for foreign animal disease transmission.
Results from the study, including reports and informational sheets, can be found below. NAHMS also conducted a study focusing on small-scale operations in 2011.