Arizona Chickens

[lacymorgan]

Interesting dilemma. I was told that in Mesa, if you are in a UR or horse property you can have as many as you want, but in other areas you can only have up to 10, then they are considered pets, more than that they are considered farm animals. Maybe that is the way it is there and maybe that is why it is so unclear. Check on what the laws are for having "birds" in your yard. I don't think people in general complain unless you get a roo. I don't have 1 because they bother me. LOL

For me if I lived where you do and only wanted a few hens for eggs and no roo I would go for it. Are you on good terms with your immediate neighbors? Offer a free egg or two if you have some to spare. Normally as long as there is no roo and your not fighting with your neighbors it works out.

 

[Venia Tulip]

Well it never really specifies. But i live in a hoa and all it says is as long as there are no complaints on noise or smell who would know... so i would get them and not worry about it since it does not say u cant so i wouldnt worry about it. I even have a rooster in my flock with a nocrow collar and my neighbors cant hear him. I have asked. My ducks make a bit of noise but no worse than a dog would

What subdivision do u live in? i live in maricopa also. The only place that says u cant have chickens is cobble stones. But people still do... also it cant be that frowned upon when the pet club and the feed store both sell ducks and chicks to maricopa residence i live in maricopa meadows

I actually live in Sierra Vista, Cochise County.

After calling around to various government entities, I finally just called a local feed store. The guy was very nice and informed me that he has many many many customers inside the city who have them and they never have any issues.

I think I'm going to go the "live and let live" route. as long as nobody complains, and I know it doesn't say NO anywhere I should be fine........as long as I can convince my "by the book" "to a T" law abiding husband that its not a threat. After all...its not a law. ;P

 

[yellow duck]

Hey just be a rebel and get a chicken there alot of fun! Big personalities even my husband has fell in love! Also i use sand for the bottom of my coop and run. It dosent have the smell problem like the other stuff does. Also u can get this stuff sweet PDZ from ir feed store and add that in with the sand and DE powder and then no problems with flies!

 

[pipemum]

You may not need to go electric. I had this issue with my dogs before and i found this solution. Buy a roll of that thick welded wire and some fence staples. Tack the wire to the fence and presto..no more destructo dog.

Yeah, you're right. I did use most of my leftover chicken wire and horse fencing on the fence addition (it's pieced together with one 2x4 and 3 mismatched sets of wire), but I think I have enough to add height to the new fence. Till I can fix it, I laid down cactus in front of the fence and a staple-spiked board on top. His paws won't be happy if he tries to jump again. Here's what he did to my chicken compost in one of his fence jumping escapades.

 

[rhondita55]

Just put my 6 girls in their new area. I was afraid that the older girls would pick on the new ones. So once the babies I got in Nov had feathers, I put them in their own little coop (another commercial one) with the heat lamp because it was still cold at night, then we had that awful cold in Jan. But they are fine. I put theirs next to the others coop and run, so they could see each other and not get at each other.

So today we let them all loose in their new home...... NO pecking or fussing at all. We had a Horse shade, but no horse and there was a dog kennel attached to it with a cement floor and lid, there was a BIG cable leash in there, so I'm thinking previous renters had big big dogs.

We put fencing wire all around the shade, all the way to the top, then just scooted the 2 coops inside. Put some water on the cement so it won't get so dirty. They are in Chick Heaven with all the room. We still need to put a little shade screen around part for the summer and make bigger watering and feeding stations. So they don't have to fight over 1 tube & nipple. Right now they are loving the weeds, grass and crickets in there. Only the 3 big girls are visible, the others are pecking at the grass behind the larger coop. Will eventually cut holes in the fence for the nesting box's to poke thru and all feed & water set up so that when we are gone, the sitters don't have to go into the coop to gather eggs, water or feed.

 

[MagicChicken]

So here is what I found out from the city zoning lady.

#1) There is no city ordinance regarding this.
#2) In the city development codes under "Single Family Residence" is does not say anywhere that they are prohibited. Matter of fact it says NOTHING on the topic.
#3) There us an "Urban Ranching" zone that says they are permitted. Kicker? There is no such zone in the city.
#4) She told me the city consul was asked to add whether it was or was not allowed. It became so controversial that they only added the UR district section.
#5) When I asked her "So where does it say I CANT have them" her answer was only that what is there is about as clear as its going to get. In other words, but not in her words, as clear as mud.
#6) I asked her about fines and she said if they are called in, there is no fine, only a request to remove them. If the city has to remove them they charge you for the removal.


I'm not sure what to do with this information. Based on what is there......is it legal for them to take people chickens if it is not SPECIFICALLY stated that they are prohibited? Or am I to assume that because its NOT stated, it also not allowed?

Please help! I don't know what to do guys.

You are getting government speak for "There is no specific ordinance banning chickens. If your chickens create a public nuisance (noisy rooster) or a public health hazard (smells, flies, inadequate housing, etc.) then the city can do something about it."

So get a few laying hens, provide the neighbors with eggs once in a while, and have fun. Keep your neighbors happy so they complain directly to you if there is a problem. You don't want the city involved in a nuisance complaint.

 

[Venia Tulip]

You are getting government speak for "There is no specific ordinance banning chickens. If your chickens create a public nuisance (noisy rooster) or a public health hazard (smells, flies, inadequate housing, etc.) then the city can do something about it."

So get a few laying hens, provide the neighbors with eggs once in a while, and have fun. Keep your neighbors happy so they complain directly to you if there is a problem. You don't want the city involved in a nuisance complaint.

Thank you for the input. Thats pretty much what I got out of the conversations too.

I'm currently working on my coop plans, which will have room for 8 to 10 hens (being very generous with the suggested space per, so could probably do a couple more even), but I am only going to get 4 to begin.
It will take me quite a few months to build the coop due to budget restrictions but I figure if something changes by the time its done and the answer is suddenly "NO WAY!", I can sell the finished coop to someone outside city limits. Only loss would be time then. XD Heres to planning for the worst and hoping for the best!

 

[DesertChic]

Thank you for the input. Thats pretty much what I got out of the conversations too.

I'm currently working on my coop plans, which will have room for 8 to 10 hens (being very generous with the suggested space per, so could probably do a couple more even), but I am only going to get 4 to begin.
It will take me quite a few months to build the coop due to budget restrictions but I figure if something changes by the time its done and the answer is suddenly "NO WAY!", I can sell the finished coop to someone outside city limits. Only loss would be time then. XD Heres to planning for the worst and hoping for the best!

AZ is actually pretty liberal overall when it comes to animals and agriculture so I doubt that the city or county will give you any grief. Inside the bigger city limits of Tucson and Phoenix there are more restrictions, but Sierra Vista and the (distant) neighboring towns are far more relaxed. I'd be more concerned with any HOA rules that may apply to you and the attitudes of my neighbors. It neither of those is a problem then you're good to go!

 

[City farm]

finally [@=/u/324236/lacymorgan]@lacymorgan[/@] I can upload the photo of the Wheaten Ameraucana, isbar, cream Legbar/ mix eggs.

awesome they look gorgeous I have some Isbar chicks ordered. Should get them in early April

Going threw our flock, if you have room for a pair of isbar's let us know.. P.M. Us for all the details.. Here is a photo of our rooster.. They will look the same..And one of these girl's

 

[City farm]

Also u can put down water containers in the shade for the chickens to soak there feet in cool water. That helps keep them cool aswell in the summer. Mint in icecubes and add that to there water dish helps keep them cooler. I read people that have done mint. Strawberrys. And lavender in a jello mold with water and froze that and gave it to the hens to peck at and eat in the shade. Keeps them busy and cool. Dont feed corn cause that can increase there body temp. pinterest has alot of great odeas for chickens. I have Rode Island reds. Ameracaunas. Black/lavender cross orpingtons and soon to have pure lavender orpingtons. Ancona and blue swedish ducklings

Oh wow your flock sounds spoiled... I hope you post up photos of your flock... How old are your ducklings ? Here is our 2 brat's Rick and Lauren.. She leaves us a gift every morning..

Duck egg