Building My First Ever Coop and Run

[AdaliaStark]

Given that everything I do for the run and coop would need to be inspected and approved of before I can get my license to own chickens, I truly don't know how much luck I would have at getting anything a bit bigger than the allowed dimensions.

Like I can ask about the height, if it is 6ft after the 1ft elevation or if it is actually 5ft due to the 1ft elevation cutting into that allowed max height of 6ft. As the phrasing seems, to me at least, to indicate that it is a max height of 6ft after the 1ft elevation. Here is the exact phrasing from the ordinance: "Each licensed premises shall contain a single chicken coop with dimensions no larger than twenty-four(24) square feet in area and six(6) feet in height as measured from grade, elevated at least one(1) foot off the ground."

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Given that everything I do for the run and coop would need to be inspected and approved of before I can get my license to own chickens

Whoa you have to get a license!?

 

[AdaliaStark]

Whoa you have to get a license!?

Yep, $100 to be paid annually. Can't keep or raise hens without it. Any code violations for keeping chickens, or with the coop and/or run can get a fine of up to $750 a day.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

That. Is. Bananas.

 

[AdaliaStark]

That. Is. Bananas.

Probably meant to be another form of discouragement towards getting chickens.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I wonder if they ended up with the 32 square feet for the run as it was the only way to get the city to change the ordinance to allow chickens? I do think there might've been alot of arguing going on behind closed doors to get that ordinance change approved, and these dimension requirements are all the city would allow.

As earlier in this post someone, I forget who, said that it looked like the city chose the dimensions they did to try and discourage people from having chickens.

Yeah it does seem like a max of 5ft for the coop and 6ft for the run, unless the 6ft height for the coop is after it has been elevated 1ft? I would probably need to ask the city about that. If the city won't let me nudge that roof height up a bit for the coop, I will need to see about covering my hair so it won't get stuck in the hardware cloth.

I have also seen used second-hand coops as well as custom built coops that are within the 6ft height requirement while being elevated some off the ground.

I am not by any means telling you that you have to put on a suit of armor and mount your warhorse to do battle with the city on this one. But I’d point out that if a pushback by you and other chickeners arises, you could make a case that the dimensions chosen by the city would result in animal cruelty, at least in terms of the run size when divided by the permitted six chickens. Additionally, chickens under stress, including too-tight quarters, tend to be a LOT noisier than contented ones.

I am guessing that all these standards were drawn up by someone who know nothing about chickens. Maybe by someone who “asked AI.”

Our city drew up regulations allowing chickens (under pressure), but they just say a total of seven animals, dogs, cats, chickens, whatever, and no roosters, plus pull a permit. Plus the typical setback requirements.

After asking a half dozen or more of my Ecology professors who have/had chickens, not a single one ever pulled a permit, and none have had problems. (Not saying that therefore, you wouldn’t.)

I did try calling our Animal Control department, which I think has possibly 2.5 FTE’s (full time employees) about a permit, and no one ever called me back. They’re dealing with actual animal problems.

Do you know/ get along with your neighbors? Some schmoozing with them might be helpful, especially if they have kids. I have found these very helpful:
https://www.amazon.com/your-orders/...B0DZCJ2T12&ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_mob_b_pop_1

Good luck!

 

[AdaliaStark]

I am not by any means telling you that you have to put on a suit of armor and mount your warhorse to do battle with the city on this one. But I’d point out that if a pushback by you and other chickeners arises, you could make a case that the dimensions chosen by the city would result in animal cruelty, at least in terms of the run size when divided by the permitted six chickens. Additionally, chickens under stress, including too-tight quarters, tend to be a LOT noisier than contented ones.

I am guessing that all these standards were drawn up by someone who know nothing about chickens. Maybe by someone who “asked AI.”

Our city drew up regulations allowing chickens (under pressure), but they just say a total of seven animals, dogs, cats, chickens, whatever, and no roosters, plus pull a permit. Plus the typical setback requirements.

After asking a half dozen or more of my Ecology professors who have/had chickens, not a single one ever pulled a permit, and none have had problems. (Not saying that therefore, you wouldn’t.)

I did try calling our Animal Control department, which I think has possibly 2.5 FTE’s (full time employees) about a permit, and no one ever called me back. They’re dealing with actual animal problems.

Do you know/ get along with your neighbors? Some schmoozing with them might be helpful, especially if they have kids. I have found these very helpful:
https://www.amazon.com/your-orders/...B0DZCJ2T12&ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_mob_b_pop_1

Good luck!

I can certainly bring that up, about the run dimensions counting as animal cruelty due not allowing enough space for the maximum number of chickens we are allowed and I could see someone with less knowledge keeping 6 chickens in that allotted run space. I was planning on only keeping 3 chickens in my coop n run, figuring I would just keep them till old age took them as we aren't allowed to slaughter them either.

I suspect that no one who raises chickens was really involved in the process of creating these regulations or if they were then they had to make so many concessions to the city just to get them approved that this is what we wound up being allowed as if they basically threw us a bone to shut us up.

While I don't think AI was involved, as these rules were changed in late 2023 though I fully understand thinking it was involved given how often it gives false info.

I do not know any of my neighbors, everyone kinda keeps to themselves around here I think and I strongly suspect that someone in my general area might have chickens(and a rooster which we aren't allowed to have) given that I can very faintly hear them around 6:30am-6:50am.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

…I do not know any of my neighbors, everyone kinda keeps to themselves around here I think and I strongly suspect that someone in my general area might have chickens(and a rooster which we aren't allowed to have) given that I can very faintly hear them around 6:30am-6:50am.

Might be worth an early morning stroll to identify potential allies.

 

[Snowbelt]

Since you are limited in the run size, consider raising the coop to 18 inches above ground so they can use the space beneath the coop as an extension of the run. This would give you an effective run space of 56 square feet which is more compatible with six chickens. I know that will reduce the coop height, but if you put the door on the long side of a 4 X 6 foot coop, you should be able to reach everything from the door.

 

[AdaliaStark]

Since you are limited in the run size, consider raising the coop to 18 inches above ground so they can use the space beneath the coop as an extension of the run. This would give you an effective run space of 56 square feet which is more compatible with six chickens. I know that will reduce the coop height, but if you put the door on the long side of a 4 X 6 foot coop, you should be able to reach everything from the door.

Thank you! I had thought about raising the coop even more than the required 1ft, as I've seen alot of small coops do exactly that to give more space in a run.