MADISON, Wis. -- Madison now joins Seattle, St. Louis and Key West in what's becoming a growing urban chicken movement.

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Madison Joins Urban Chicken Movement Do Chickens Make Good Pets?

News 3's Joel DeSpain reports on why this trend is really taking flight in the capital city.

For a long time in Madison, owners were walking on eggshells during the dark years of the chicken underground -- when you kept secret the identity of those in your backyard.

"Those days it was kind of like don't ask, don't tell," said Pam Karstens, a former Chicken Underground member.

That was until this past year when some decided to step out of the shadows and make a little noise.

"We decided let's just get this out. Let's talk about it," Karstens said.

Backyard chickens have now been emancipated.

"They have, and let me tell you it's a serious issue -- it's no yolk," said Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. "Chickens are really bringing us together as a community -- for too long they've been cooped up."

Thanks to a new ordinance anyone can now have four hens a-clucking.

The underground has scratched its way into full public view.

"I got them for eggs and for painting, because I knew they'd be really fun to paint," said Sue Medaris, a chicken owner and artist. "Chickens have a lot of personality. The color in their feathers are great. People seem to really love them."

Eleven-year-old chicken owner Mariah and sister Jessie, 7, find chickens easier to take care of than a cat. Jessie said chickens can give you things other pets can't. In fact four good layers are worth about two dozen eggs each week. Many chickens cost less than a dollar and can live up to 15 years.

"There's certainly a lot of different colors, sizes, varieties you can get," said Ron Kean, UW poultry expert. "They have some interesting behaviors. Some will be very attached to you. Some will be more standoffish. There's some different breed characteristics."

Many are now flocking to a new Web site to learn all about it -- MadCityChickens.com.

The Web site explains "how to do it -- how to do it right," Karstens said. "We have a little chicken class called Chickens 101."

Those who toiled for years in the underground say that when you get one of these in your arms and you might see the light too.

"Chickens are fabulous. I think they're the best thing going since guinea pigs," Karstens said. "Chickens are basically a good time."