Arizona backyard chickens - now legal

[EmmaDonovan]

Does this help?

"A total of 10 fowl, including rabbits, are allowed on lots less than ½ acre (21,780sq ft). Roosters are only allowed if they do not create a noise disturbance. If a noise disturbance occurs, they must be removed to avoid a citation."

I don't know how rabbits are fowl BUT it looks like you can have up to ten chickens, including a rooster!

 

[DeltaTango]

Does this help?

"A total of 10 fowl, including rabbits, are allowed on lots less than ½ acre (21,780sq ft). Roosters are only allowed if they do not create a noise disturbance. If a noise disturbance occurs, they must be removed to avoid a citation."

I don't know how rabbits are fowl BUT it looks like you can have up to ten chickens, including a rooster!

Thank you, I saw this before but the reason I ask is that I thought I saw somewhere that there was a minimum lot size, and I can't find it now. I wish I saved the site that I saw it on.

I will be reading and watching a lot of Youtube videos on raising chickens, and most likely asking more questions here. I love eggs and it looks like my yard meets all of the requirements, so I'm excited at the prospect of raising chickens. I just want to make sure everything is legal before I invest all the time and money.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

It is exciting! You are wise for wanting to ascertain the rules ahead of time. Here's a link to the relevant city code. I think you're good to go. If you want to be extra sure you could confirm everything with the city manager's office: (480) 644-2066.

Ten chickens including a rooster is not bad for urban livestock regulations. I live on a largish property near Tucson and we can't have roosters here (although we hear a rooster from time to time; I think someone borrows one occasionally for breeding).

Inspire Farms is in Mesa if you're looking for a source for chicks. We bought nine chicks from them last March. All girls, as promised. They're healthy and grown and started laying at the end of July. We're considering getting a couple more chicks from them next year.

Even though we don't have long, freezing winters keep in mind you want to get chicks soon enough that they will be fully feathered before the cold temps hit. What breeds are you thinking of getting?

 

[DeltaTango]

It is exciting! You are wise for wanting to ascertain the rules ahead of time. Here's a link to the relevant city code. I think you're good to go. If you want to be extra sure you could confirm everything with the city manager's office: (480) 644-2066.

Ten chickens including a rooster is not bad for urban livestock regulations. I live on a largish property near Tucson and we can't have roosters here (although we hear a rooster from time to time; I think someone borrows one occasionally for breeding).

Inspire Farms is in Mesa if you're looking for a source for chicks. We bought nine chicks from them last March. All girls, as promised. They're healthy and grown and started laying at the end of July. We're considering getting a couple more chicks from them next year.

Even though we don't have long, freezing winters keep in mind you want to get chicks soon enough that they will be fully feathered before the cold temps hit. What breeds are you thinking of getting?

Thank you for this information! I most likely won't be getting a rooster because of the noise. My property is too small and neighbors too close.

From my research, I'm thinking White Leghorn, Americana, Black australorp, and California Gray would all be good choices. I'm very new at this, and open to any suggestions.

I will be going to Inspire Farms either today or tomorrow to get the chicks and a starter kit.

I have seen parts of the regulations and what confused me is where it says "35,000 SQ. FT.—43,560 SQ. FT.", but never mentions anything smaller than that. If I'm reading that correctly that 35,000 SQ. FT. property size is for exceptions to the 10 fowl rule, and not the minimum property size, correct?

 

[BlueBaby]

Thank you for this information! I most likely won't be getting a rooster because of the noise. My property is too small and neighbors too close.

From my research, I'm thinking White Leghorn, Americana, Black australorp, and California Gray would all be good choices. I'm very new at this, and open to any suggestions.

I will be going to Inspire Farms either today or tomorrow to get the chicks and a starter kit.

I have seen parts of the regulations and what confused me is where it says "35,000 SQ. FT.—43,560 SQ. FT.", but never mentions anything smaller than that. If I'm reading that correctly that 35,000 SQ. FT. property size is for exceptions to the 10 fowl rule, and not the minimum property size, correct?

With the breeds that you have chosen, be prepared to be able to rehome any boys that show up in your batch of chicks.

 

[Debbie292d]

This sounds great for you Arizonans! But...

The coop, which must be cleaned twice a week

We use horse bedding pellets, and our coop doesn't need cleaning but once a year, albeit their roosting area on top of the nest boxes (silkies). Pellets absorb the moisture from the poop, so there are no odors. We use them in our brooders now, too, and what a game-changer that was!

I'm not quite sure how they're going to enforce that rule unless someone's coop stinks and a neighbor reports it.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Thank you for this information! I most likely won't be getting a rooster because of the noise. My property is too small and neighbors too close.

From my research, I'm thinking White Leghorn, Americana, Black australorp, and California Gray would all be good choices. I'm very new at this, and open to any suggestions.

I will be going to Inspire Farms either today or tomorrow to get the chicks and a starter kit.

I have seen parts of the regulations and what confused me is where it says "35,000 SQ. FT.—43,560 SQ. FT.", but never mentions anything smaller than that. If I'm reading that correctly that 35,000 SQ. FT. property size is for exceptions to the 10 fowl rule, and not the minimum property size, correct?

The city code says this: "no more than a total of ten (10) rodents or fowl or a combination of rodents and fowl shall be kept upon the first one-half (½) acre or less."

So if your property size is a 1/2 acre (that's 21,780 sq. ft.) or smaller, you can keep up to ten chickens.

Those breeds should do great. We have white leghorns and black Australorps and they are doing fine even in this heat, I got them from Inspire Farms. The leghorns are our best layers. They lay every day. I have friends who have Ameraucanas and they do fine, too. I don't have any experience with California Grays but I can't imagine you'd have any problems with them. That will be a pretty flock.

Inspire Farms has food and other goodies, it's easy to get carried away and buy lots of fun stuff there. You've been warned!

 

[DeltaTango]

The city code says this: "no more than a total of ten (10) rodents or fowl or a combination of rodents and fowl shall be kept upon the first one-half (½) acre or less."

So if your property size is a 1/2 acre (that's 21,780 sq. ft.) or smaller, you can keep up to ten chickens.

Those breeds should do great. We have white leghorns and black Australorps and they are doing fine even in this heat, I got them from Inspire Farms. The leghorns are our best layers. They lay every day. I have friends who have Ameraucanas and they do fine, too. I don't have any experience with California Grays but I can't imagine you'd have any problems with them. That will be a pretty flock.

Inspire Farms has food and other goodies, it's easy to get carried away and buy lots of fun stuff there. You've been warned!

Perfect, thanks again! I'm planning my coop now, and I can't wait to get started.

Anyone know if it's hard to get anyone to take any roosters that I get accidentally?

 

[EmmaDonovan]

This sounds great for you Arizonans! But...

We use horse bedding pellets, and our coop doesn't need cleaning but once a year, albeit their roosting area on top of the nest boxes (silkies). Pellets absorb the moisture from the poop, so there are no odors. We use them in our brooders now, too, and what a game-changer that was!

I'm not quite sure how they're going to enforce that rule unless someone's coop stinks and a neighbor reports it.

Yeah it's probably more so they have something to point to if there's an odor or fly issue. It's not like they're going to check otherwise.

 

[Debbie292d]

Yeah it's probably more so they have something to point to if there's an odor or fly issue. It's not like they're going to check otherwise.

I sure wouldn't think so as weekly inspections to see if you cleaned your coop sounds pretty anal when there are abused children whose homes may or may not be inspected. Bad analogy perhaps, but it seems taxpayer money could be spent a little wiser.