Need your input to help draft new city ordinance for Backyard Chickens!

[TheAlrightyGina]

I support your attempt to try to get roosters in. In truth, they are no noisier than dogs, maxing out at the same level (~90db) and at least where I am, the roosters crow a lot less than dogs bark. That's a point you can bring up if you want to try, as well as suggesting stipulations such as an insulated coop or a baffle wall/fence/hedge if you have a rooster, and a minimum hen to rooster ratio (most sources suggest 10 to 1), and only one rooster per lot. All of these things will reduce crowing and/or its tendency to annoy neighbors.

I believe my city's code includes language basically that any animal that becomes a nuisance must be removed; it's how people fight obnoxious dogs. The same could be suggested for people who don't manage their roosters according to the stipulations in the code.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I just ran across this thread. How'd it go? When will you find out???

 

[Lori J]

Greetings all and Happy New Year. I'm new to the group and don't have a coop or any chickens yet. I have designed my ideal coop and I've fantasized about the breeds of chickens I'm going to get. One slight issue is holding me up. My city, approximate population of 75,000, doesn't presently allow chickens. Our city council met in September 2020 to discuss a chicken ordinance and they have a Study Group meeting, this Jan 12th, to discuss the possibility of creating an ordinance. I know all of the council folks very well and I am a commissioner on an unrelated city advisory board. It is my intention to write them all a letter, prior to their study session, outlining my opinion as to which issues and type of things should be addressed by the (hopefully) new ordinance.

Some things I am thinking about:

• Chickens are flock animals and at least 8-12 adult chickens should be allowed.
• Provide definition of birds by age. Allow 8-12 chicks, pullets, and cockerels under the age of 30 weeks.
• Allow one rooster if kept in coop from dusk to dawn. Needed for predator security and breeding.
• Follow same noise ordinance as dogs.
• Keep the rules for coops and runs simple. Make them a part of zoning ordinance. Define similarly to greenhouses and auxiliary outbuildings like garden sheds.
• Reasonable care of the animals must be afforded in all aspects including proper handling, restraining, sheltering, exercise, grooming, nutrition, watering, parasite and waste management, and veterinary care for the species of animal kept. Industry or breed standards for the breed and type of animal may be used to determine whether reasonable care is being provided. Poor condition or health in the absence of veterinary supervision is prima facie evidence of a violation.
• Clean water must at all times be present and available for the animals. Feed must be animal-appropriate and stored in such a manner as to prohibit contamination by moisture, mold, and insects and to restrict access by rodents.
• Odors from the animals or from animal waste must not be discernible at any property line.
• Waste must be collected and removed or composted regularly.
• Slaughter must be limited to personal livestock, must not be conducted in the front yard, and must be conducted within a completely screened area. Remains must be disposed of and removed from the site within 24 hours.

Thanks in advance for your help.
SkiboJeff

(FYI - Skibo is an off the grid place in the Superior National Forest area of northern MN. Although I live in a big city near Minneapolis, I also own a cabin there and my neighbors have 40 chickens).

I think it should state that poultry is allowed (mention if roosters are excluded) and the number. I think all the other would fall under other ordinanes regarding animals and property upkeep. I am basing this off of the ordinances in our area. Government and ordinances are important, but they can be overdone, especially when they start dictating where common sense should apply.

 

[SkiboJeff]

I just ran across this thread. How'd it go? When will you find out???

The city council had a study group yesterday and it seems like most of the council is in favor of passing an ordinance. Here are the highlights: 4 hens, no roosters, 200 sq ft coop and run maximum without having a bldg permit or code compliance, 10ft bldg height, 10 ft setback from property line, 50 ft distance from neighbor dwelling, no free range, rodent proof food storage containers, maintain clean coop and run. Actually looking pretty good. Now goes to Planning Commission and then back to city council for a vote in March.

 

[Percheron chick]

Sounds like a reasonable place to start. No free ranging is a bummer but you probably have a high predator load so it's probably best.

 

[black_cat]

The city council had a study group yesterday and it seems like most of the council is in favor of passing an ordinance. Here are the highlights: 4 hens, no roosters, 200 sq ft coop and run maximum without having a bldg permit or code compliance, 10ft bldg height, 10 ft setback from property line, 50 ft distance from neighbor dwelling, no free range, rodent proof food storage containers, maintain clean coop and run. Actually looking pretty good. Now goes to Planning Commission and then back to city council for a vote in March.

Looks pretty good. I'd probably request a higher number of hens, like 8 or 10, because of issues with predation and stuff (you don't want to end up with one lone hen)

 

[SkiboJeff]

Looks pretty good. I'd probably request a higher number of hens, like 8 or 10, because of issues with predation and stuff (you don't want to end up with one lone hen)

This is my response to the council after their study session. See the attachment.

 

[Aunt Angus]

This is my response to the council after their study session. See the attachment.

Niiiiiice! Love the math logic!

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

This is my response to the council after their study session. See the attachment.

That's a pretty solid response. However, I'm confused about the idea of including chicks in the total # of chickens. Most people raise chicks in a brooder, which is usually entirely separate from the coop/run structure, if not inside their house. Perhaps language should be suggested that has a separate mimimum for chicks up to 16 weeks (processing age for heritage breeds) as long as their brooder is housed separately. Typically these aren't structures in and of themselves, but something akin to specialized furniture. If necessary, the coop/run limitations could be gotten around by including something about chicken tractors for birds that will be held on the property for less than 6 months (this also would give people a way to have a hospital coop without breaking any rules).

I think this is especially important for those who want to raise them for meat, as you would need more birds for meat, temporarily, than for egg laying.

Any concerns about early crowers could be addressed with animal nuisance laws already in place, more than likely.

 

[black_cat]

This is my response to the council after their study session. See the attachment.

I think that the math logic is great as well! I agree with @TheAlrightyGina about their points as well. (am I correct that your pronouns are they/them?) But I would check your spelling before sending it in