TABLE 2.
Animal flock/herd characteristics of backyard poultry and swine respondents in southcentral Pennsylvania, 1 April to 31 August 2018
| Animal species (Q1) | Type | n (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Poultry | 74 (69.8%) | |
| Swine | 15 (14.2%) | |
| Both poultry and swine | 17 (16.0%) | |
| Median number of animals (Q2) | ||
| Poultry | 15.5 | |
| Swine | 3 | |
| Animal use (Q3)b | Poultry n (%) | Swine n (%) |
| Pets | 33 (36.7%) | 7 (21.9%) |
| Meat | 19 (21.1%) | 20 (62.5%) |
| Shows/Exhibition | 11 (12.2%) | 12 (37.5%) |
| Eggs (poultry only) | 81 (90.0%) | N/A |
| Other | 4 (4.4%) | 2 (6.3%) |
| Total respondentsa | 90 (100.0%) | 32 (100.0%) |
| Animal source (Q10)b | ||
| Nursery or hatchery | 37 (42.1%) | 3 (9.4%) |
| Home raised | 34 (38.6%) | 10 (31.3%) |
| Animal sale/auction | 20 (22.7%) | 14 (43.8%) |
| Neighbours/friends/family | 22 (25.0%) | 12 (37.5%) |
| Online source | 17 (19.3%) | 3 (9.4%) |
| Other | 15 (17.1%) | 3 (9.4%) |
| Total respondentsa | 88 (100.0%) | 32 (100.0%) |
| Housing (Q4) | ||
| Strictly indoors | 8 (8.9%) | 8 (25.8%) |
| Mixed indoors/outdoors | 45 (50.0%) | 18 (58.1%) |
| Strictly outdoors | 37 (41.1%) | 5 (16.1%) |
| Total respondentsa | 90 (100.0%) | 31 (100.0%) |
| Contact with wild animals (Q7) | ||
| Yes | 44 (48.9%) | 9 (28.1%) |
| No | 45 (50.0%) | 22 (68.8%) |
| Don’t know | 1 (1.1%) | 1 (3.1%) |
| Total respondentsa | 90 (100.0%) | 32 (100.0%) |
| Types of wild animal contact (Q8)b | ||
| Wild ducks/geese | 9 (20.5%) | 4 (40.0%) |
| Coyotes | 2 (4.6%) | 2 (20.0%) |
| Rodents | 22 (50.0%) | 4 (40.0%) |
| Raccoons | 15 (34.1%) | 2 (20.0%) |
| Deer | 15 (34.1%) | 5 (50.0%) |
| Feral/wild swine | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Other (predators) | 20 (45.5%) | 2 (20.0%) |
| Total respondentsa | 44 (100.0%) | 10 (100.0%) |
| Rodent/insect use (Q9) | ||
| Feeding area | 30 (35.3%) | 15 (48.4%) |
| Living area | 32 (37.7%) | 14 (45.2%) |
| No–not utilized | 34 (40.0%) | 8 (25.8%) |
| Don’t know | 0 (0.0%) | 2 (6.5%) |
| Other | 10 (11.8%) | 1 (3.2%) |
| Total respondentsa | 85 (100.0%) | 31 (100.0%) |
| Allow animals inside home (Q39) | ||
| No | 80 (88.9%) | 27 (87.1%) |
| Yes | 10 (11.1%) | 4 (12.9%) |
| Total respondentsa | 90 (100.0%) | 31 (100.0) |
a
Not applicable responses were excluded from the analysis;
b
Question with option to select all that applied.