ALABAMA!!

[stephruss]

Hi I am in Birmingham alabama and I am really considering getting chickens but I am not sure if chickens are allowed. I talk to a few people and half say they are and half say no. I live in a residental area and I do have a huge backyard. Plenty of room. Can we have chickens in Birmingham city? I read the thing here that said we can but some others are telling me no LOL it is confusing.

 

[chirpingcricket]

Side view of 1st coop and Playpen (run).


From view of 1st coop and playpen. Note: The Playpen, part that is sticking out has a middle divider wall (made of chicken wire and hardware cloth so 2 roosters and hens can't peck at each other from each side) with and interior door for me to walk into and clean as well as the exterior door.

This is a view of the 2nd coop, attached to 2nd half of Playpen. Each coop on each side has a pop door (2' x 2') so chickens can walk from coop into their half of the play pen area. When I'm ready to clean each side, I just close the pop door on their side of the coop, locking them in. I enter from the little outside door.


3rd pen, just added. Unattached to 2nd coop and Playpen/run.



Closer view of 3rd pen. Note the extra overhang on roofing. Also note, a more clear view of 1/2 x 1/2" hardware cloth at the bottom of the wall and across the bottom of the door. The hen boxes are in the back 1/3 of the pen. Perch's on the south and west mid corner and walls.


South corner, see hardware cloth at the bottom. I'll probably add another 6 inch's around the perimeter just above what we have already. The main thing is you want your hens to be able to duck under/run away from the paws of predators reaching into the side of the pen. They (coons) were in packs and will drive the hens around and around and try to trap them into corners where they can be grabbed by the neck or wing. At night, we let ours roost on top of the hen box. Away from blowing rains and predator paws.




Here, I am trying to show you how the hardware cloth is attached at the bottom of the 2 x 4 and buried underneath to deter digging. It's also done on the inside as well to keep chickens from digging out from around the bottom of the frame.


Another side view.


View from the back of 3rd pen.

We have a nursery pen for peeps in the back of Coop 1 and 2 where we just closed in the portion between the 2 walls. Too hard to show in photos. Anyway, you get the idea. All coops runs have their pros and cons, but for the money, we're pretty good with the open air. I can put 1 industrial size fan on a stand in the back side (north) of the first 2 coops and cover both and playpen/run area. The third pen is not attached to anything else, and should ventilate fine. If not, I'll put a little fan in there just to move the air. The main thing that really helps, is that we built under and around as many trees possible.

Hope this is helpful. Thanks!

 

[chirpingcricket]

So..would you say that you framed it as if it were going to have solid walls but instead used the wire. You said u have removable panels for harsh weather. What are those made out of?

Yes, exactly. Use the wire, instead of solid wood. We have been using plywood type panels. I want to get away from wood due to mites as much as possible. I'm looking into getting something like fiberglass panels, like you would use on a green house roof. Something more of plastic/fiberglass. Going to start shopping around at the box stores to see what is available. Will probably use a latch or latch/hook system to hold panels in place. Don't want to have to use our shed/barn to store plywood sides, figure plastic/vinyl/fiberglass faster and lighter to assemble. And, here at least, they are not up for very long. Those birds love the open air sides.

 

[huntinwidow]

Hi I am in Birmingham alabama and I am really considering getting chickens but I am not sure if chickens are allowed. I talk to a few people and half say they are and half say no. I live in a residental area and I do have a huge backyard. Plenty of room. Can we have chickens in Birmingham city? I read the thing here that said we can but some others are telling me no LOL it is confusing.

Welcome to BYC and the Al thread. I am not in the city limits but my understanding( there was a great discussion on facebook a week or so ago) is that chickens are not allowed in residential neighborhoods. There was a resolution at the last city counsel meeting. I'll try to find it and post it here.
Now I know for a fact that there are many chickens in the city limits. Many people have stealth chickens. I would say talk to your neighbors. If they're ok. Then don't ask don't tell.

 

[huntinwidow]

Here is the quote from facebook. 'Urban farms were contemplated as production on a commercial scale, and as such require either commercial zoning (as a special exception) or industrial zoning.'

 

[chickadoodles]

I had my first chickie casualty

Everyone seems healthy and they are at the end of a Corid treatment.

So sorry about your chick!

 

[chirpingcricket]

Yes, exactly. Use the wire, instead of solid wood. We have been using plywood type panels. I want to get away from wood due to mites as much as possible. I'm looking into getting something like fiberglass panels, like you would use on a green house roof. Something more of plastic/fiberglass. Going to start shopping around at the box stores to see what is available. Will probably use a latch or latch/hook system to hold panels in place. Don't want to have to use our shed/barn to store plywood sides, figure plastic/vinyl/fiberglass faster and lighter to assemble. And, here at least, they are not up for very long. Those birds love the open air sides.

Hey Jeanna Marie,
Also, we have just used tarps as well and will put them up on the sides where they may need a little protection from a cold blowing rain, etc. Just had them on a hook up system, hung onto chicken wire under ledge of roof and pull them down, once weather settled down, folded and placed into shed. Just want to go to something a little more permanent, lightweight and easy to manage, minimal storage now that we can afford it a little better than when we started. It has certainly been a learn as you go project since DH nor I are carpenter material, but had fun as we went along and the "design" fell into place as we got the scrap lumber. Maybe one day tear it down and make it more pleasing/functional but right now, serving the purpose. By summer it's just covered with flowers, plants, hardly know it's there. Especially helpful on the south side, helps block some of the heat.

One note: We thought we wanted the playpen to be closed in with chicken wire, but open to the sky for the birds. Mistake! Heat, sun, leaves, pinestraw, hawks flying over, watching every move the birds make, all the leaves, bugs etc, coming through the top of the wire and no fun to walk and work under.
Covering that playpen with tin/fiberglass asap. Less wood. Covered roofs, always in my book. Verna

 

[chickadoodles]

Chirpingcricket, I really like your coops and pens! They are very neat! I love the fact that the air can go right thru in the summer to keep them cool.

 

[Jeanna Marie]

This is a view of the 2nd coop, attached to 2nd half of Playpen. Each coop on each side has a pop door (2' x 2') so chickens can walk from coop into their half of the play pen area. When I'm ready to clean each side, I just close the pop door on their side of the coop, locking them in. I enter from the little outside door. 3rd pen, just added. Unattached to 2nd coop and Playpen/run. Closer view of 3rd pen. Note the extra overhang on roofing. Also note, a more clear view of 1/2 x 1/2" hardware cloth at the bottom of the wall and across the bottom of the door. The hen boxes are in the back 1/3 of the pen. Perch's on the south and west mid corner and walls. South corner, see hardware cloth at the bottom. I'll probably add another 6 inch's around the perimeter just above what we have already. The main thing is you want your hens to be able to duck under/run away from the paws of predators reaching into the side of the pen. They (coons) were in packs and will drive the hens around and around and try to trap them into corners where they can be grabbed by the neck or wing. At night, we let ours roost on top of the hen box. Away from blowing rains and predator paws. Here, I am trying to show you how the hardware cloth is attached at the bottom of the 2 x 4 and buried underneath to deter digging. It's also done on the inside as well to keep chickens from digging out from around the bottom of the frame. Another side view. View from the back of 3rd pen. We have a nursery pen for peeps in the back of Coop 1 and 2 where we just closed in the portion between the 2 walls. Too hard to show in photos. Anyway, you get the idea. All coops runs have their pros and cons, but for the money, we're pretty good with the open air. I can put 1 industrial size fan on a stand in the back side (north) of the first 2 coops and cover both and playpen/run area. The third pen is not attached to anything else, and should ventilate fine. If not, I'll put a little fan in there just to move the air. The main thing that really helps, is that we built under and around as many trees possible. Hope this is helpful. Thanks!

Yes, exactly. Use the wire, instead of solid wood. We have been using plywood type panels. I want to get away from wood due to mites as much as possible. I'm looking into getting something like fiberglass panels, like you would use on a green house roof. Something more of plastic/fiberglass. Going to start shopping around at the box stores to see what is available. Will probably use a latch or latch/hook system to hold panels in place. Don't want to have to use our shed/barn to store plywood sides, figure plastic/vinyl/fiberglass faster and lighter to assemble. And, here at least, they are not up for very long. Those birds love the open air sides.

Hey Jeanna Marie, Also, we have just used tarps as well and will put them up on the sides where they may need a little protection from a cold blowing rain, etc. Just had them on a hook up system, hung onto chicken wire under ledge of roof and pull them down, once weather settled down, folded and placed into shed. Just want to go to something a little more permanent, lightweight and easy to manage, minimal storage now that we can afford it a little better than when we started. It has certainly been a learn as you go project since DH nor I are carpenter material, but had fun as we went along and the "design" fell into place as we got the scrap lumber. Maybe one day tear it down and make it more pleasing/functional but right now, serving the purpose. By summer it's just covered with flowers, plants, hardly know it's there. Especially helpful on the south side, helps block some of the heat. One note: We thought we wanted the playpen to be closed in with chicken wire, but open to the sky for the birds. Mistake! Heat, sun, leaves, pinestraw, hawks flying over, watching every move the birds make, all the leaves, bugs etc, coming through the top of the wire and no fun to walk and work under. Covering that playpen with tin/fiberglass asap. Less wood. Covered roofs, always in my book. Verna

d Thank you guys so much. I thought that open air coops would be cheaper and easier but everyone seems to think chickens need a huge chick mansion. Not t to say that ooen coops cannot be just as nice. Here in the south our heat and humidity during the summer are gonna keep my babies out of the coop even at night I'm afraid. I want them to be comfortable and happy. I won't tey to force them into a hot coop!

 

[Alabama ee]

I found this https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/birmingham-alabama-chicken-ordinance Hope that helps

Quote:

Hi I am in Birmingham alabama and I am really considering getting chickens but I am not sure if chickens are allowed. I talk to a few people and half say they are and half say no. I live in a residental area and I do have a huge backyard. Plenty of room. Can we have chickens in Birmingham city? I read the thing here that said we can but some others are telling me no LOL it is confusing.