Not only do the domestic feathered foragers do an excellent job of cleaning up food scraps but also their eggs provide a source of fresh protein.

Forty people attended Newcastle City Council's "chooks in the suburbs" workshop on Saturday to learn how to care for chickens in their own backyards.

It was one of several sustainability workshops to be held over the next few months, including one that will focus on domestic solar power.

The workshops will apply many of the principles being promoted in the lead-up to Earth Hour on March 28.

Council environmental education officer Frances Beilby said half the rubbish in household garbage bins that ended up in landfill could be composted, put in a worm farm or fed to backyard chickens.

"Chooks contribute to sustainable living, because they can eat kitchen scraps, reducing the amount of waste and landfill," Ms Beilby said.

"Other benefits of backyard chickens include their value as pets and they are community building because people give their excess eggs to their neighbours."

Ms Beilby said the Isa Brown was a good breed for suburban backyards.

The Isa Brown is bred specifically for laying.

It will lay five or six eggs a week during its peak laying season.