A creative alternative to backyard chickens?

[sumguy]

We bought a house in a residential area of a California city and recently found that one of our daughters has a desperate love for animals. She especially wants chickens, but our city forbids it (thought the neighbors have them anyway). Does anyone have any creative ideas for us to interact with (or even raise) chickens w/o violating any laws? I thought of maybe approaching someone nearby w/ land and offering to rent a small piece and visiting once a week, but I don't know if that's enough attention for chickens to thrive and I'm not sure it would be worth all the effort. Anyway, please let me know if you have any ideas to help me and my 6-year-old. Thanks!

 

[canesisters]

I would suggest making friends with the neighbors who have chickens. Maybe they will let her help with the chores and visit their birds.

 

[sumguy]

That's a great idea. Unfortunately they only speak Spanish and we don't speak any. I guess we could try to learn enough to ask to help. A tad awkward but might be possible. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[chitown chicks]

I find this interesting as I just had a conversation with someone about the fact that many folks from South American countries probably have a better grasp on how to raise chickens the right way than most American's do and that many of those from SA countries are likely living in areas of towns, because of socioeconomic status, that don't allow backyard chickens.
This takes me right back to my argument on the IL thread stating that those who need the chickens the most, are using resources that cost A LOT, but aren't allowed to keep chickens, goats, etc in their yards.

OP, I hope you keep us posted as to how this plays out for you.

GL!

 

[sumguy]

So true! People are oh so happy to depend on the government for food. Let's get these noisy animals out of our cities... until another depression hits. Then we'll all be wishing we could provide at least partially for ourselves. Well, our next move will definitely be to "Agriculturally" zoned land. Now how am I going to move my 900 gallon aquaponics system =(? Another big shocker was what we can't do to our house w/o paying everyone and their mother for permits, inspections, etc.

 

[Chickiemom25]

Well, a few things you can do, get the chickens and accept you may have to get rid of them ( as may your neighbors). Start the process of changing the laws. Santa Ana just changed the setback from 100' to 30' so things CAN be changed.

I wonder if a 4H program would exempt you

 

[sumguy]

"get the chickens and accept you may have to get rid of them"

Very tempting, but we're trying to teach our kids to work within the rules/laws. I guess at some point if laws are too restrictive/dangerous the people have an obligation to act. Hmm...

"I wonder if a 4H program would exempt you"

Good question. I guess I'll have to call the city and ask if there are any exemptions. Is there any strategic way to do this or just call them and say "Are there any exemptions to the rule? 4H?" and see what they say?

I have no idea how one would go about requesting that a law is changed. Any guidance? I recently heard of a guy who took all his clothes off in an airport security checkpoint. I wonder how I could apply that to chickens =).

 

[HEChicken]

Good luck. To answer one of your original questions, visiting once a week really isn't enough. While I will go away for a long weekend having left my flock enough food and water for that amount of time, I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving them a week without someone checking on them. If one were to be injured or ill, a predator got in, they spilled their water or got an auto water stopped up so it couldn't flow.....so many things that can go wrong.

 

[Imp]

You could get a couple of those tiny chickens like Seramas, and keep them in a cage; just letting them out when you are home. Or maybe quail.

Good luck,
Imp

 

[chitown chicks]

"get the chickens and accept you may have to get rid of them"

Very tempting, but we're trying to teach our kids to work within the rules/laws. I guess at some point if laws are too restrictive/dangerous the people have an obligation to act. Hmm...

"I wonder if a 4H program would exempt you"

Good question. I guess I'll have to call the city and ask if there are any exemptions. Is there any strategic way to do this or just call them and say "Are there any exemptions to the rule? 4H?" and see what they say?

I have no idea how one would go about requesting that a law is changed. Any guidance? I recently heard of a guy who took all his clothes off in an airport security

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/316045/direct-links-to-help-you-change-your-local-chicken-l-o-r-e

Things seem to be heating up in IL so you might want to follow this thread on here.

GL!