California-Southern

[MrBug708]

From what I can tell, I can, based on where I live, which isn't that far from Florence and Carmenita. Now to figure out the coop. I want only a couple but am smart enough to know to plan for a few more than I think I want now.

 

[Sylvester017]

Hey all,

I am an aspiring chicken owner but wanted to make sure I have all my chicks in a row before I take the plunge. My first concern is whether or not I can actually have them. I live in Whittier, which looks like it's an apparent no-go, but I live in an area that is considered unincorporated LA county, which, if I'm not mistaken, is what guides me. There was a thread here about Whittier, but it seems to be a little unknown, so I was hoping someone had a better idea on which rules I need to follow.

Unincorporated LA County areas are more lax about keeping chickens. If within city limits the city codes are atrocious. I live in LA unincorporated county and have chickens as do some other people in the neighborhood -- just not too many birds. I believe 5 hens, no roos, is the limit. Of course, it doesn't matter if you are zoned for hens or not because one neighbor complaint can disband a flock as happened to my friend two streets away in the city zone. Her neighbor was what City Hall branded as a "nuisance caller" but they have to investigate every call regardless. The city came out to inspect my friend's flock and said measurements didn't comply with code and she had to disperse her 15 birds. Know your neighbors before going through the heartbreak of losing your birds to neighbor complaints and stay confined to the bird limit. My chickens are the best pets I've ever raised and their poop can stay where it lands!

 

[Sylvester017]

From what I can tell, I can, based on where I live, which isn't that far from Florence and Carmenita. Now to figure out the coop. I want only a couple but am smart enough to know to plan for a few more than I think I want now.

How many chickens and coop size depends on your lot size. Most codes require a coop to be 50 feet away from any buildings whether your own or your neighbor's buildings. An area might say chickens are allowed yet make the coop restrictions almost impossible to qualify. If you have a large lot than you are probably okay with 5 hens. Minimum build measurements for housing/health is 4 square feet coop floor space per EACH chicken (4 hens = 16 sq ft), one square foot constant open air ventilation per EACH chicken (4 hens = 4 sq ft), and 10 square feet per EACH chicken of pen/run foraging space (4 chickens = 40 sq ft). These are minimum. This is not to discourage but only to inform. Again, who cares what the zone and building code is? It is more crucial about what kind of neighbors you have. My neighborhood will tolerate even a crowing rooster (which is not zoned) yet a zoned area for 5 hens can be dispersed by just one crabby neighbor.

Our current coop is a pre-fab that's 4x4x6 feet tall with a 4x4 additional run attached. It is covered by a patio roof to protect from sun and rain.



Our hens free-forage all day and the enclosed pen area is locked up only at night.



Our first little coop was 4x6x4 feet tall and exposed to sun and rain all the time. Hard to keep protected and a 4x6 run below is way too small for even a couple chickens,. We quickly learned they needed a LOT more space to wander.


It was a cute workable design but made out of poor quality materials.

 

[MrBug708]

From what I've read, it needs to be 20 feet from my residence, 35 feet from my neighbors residence, and 5 feet from fence lines. I live on a corner lot next to a huge county park so I only have one neighbor who runs a softball training program in his back yard and rescues huskies. As long as there isn't a rooster around, I'm not worried about him. I do have the yard space to accommodate 5 chickens with ease.

 

[Sylvester017]

From what I've read, it needs to be 20 feet from my residence, 35 feet from my neighbors residence, and 5 feet from fence lines. I live on a corner lot next to a huge county park so I only have one neighbor who runs a softball training program in his back yard and rescues huskies. As long as there isn't a rooster around, I'm not worried about him. I do have the yard space to accommodate 5 chickens with ease.

That sounds very lucky! 5 chickens are more than enough for a family. I like having an even number of 4 birds but broke my protocol and ordered two more birds to bring my total to 5 again. I had to do it because my two oldest birds are Silkies and hardly laying much any more. They were terrific pullet layers but at 5 and 6 years old they've slacked off so I need at least 3 younger hens for production. It's just two of us at home so 3 large fowl Breda layers should be enough with the occasional Silkie egg showing up from the two older girls. I usually stagger the ages of my hens so that they don't get old all at the same time. I had the perfect staggered ages last year with 4 birds but lost two to heat-related complications and it blew that plan all to crap and had to start all over this Spring. Now if I lose a bird this year I'll still have 4 left. I hate to think of losing a bird but that's reality for you! It happens sometimes. When I first started with chickens it was just to have two bantam "pets" but then I added a couple Leghorns, a Marans, and an Ameraucana to make a colorful egg basket. Wrong plan. Different color egg layers are not all compatible flockmates and I had to re-home the common egg layers and dual purpose in lieu of keeping the smaller gentler docile large fowl to mix with the Silkies and gentle Ameraucana. We tried a lighterweight Breda and she was the perfect answer to mix with the docile timid breeds and she was a good layer too. I've ordered two more Breda because they surprised us with their good temperament and production.

 

[Jessimom]

That sounds very lucky! 5 chickens are more than enough for a family. I like having an even number of 4 birds but broke my protocol and ordered two more birds to bring my total to 5 again. I had to do it because my two oldest birds are Silkies and hardly laying much any more. They were terrific pullet layers but at 5 and 6 years old they've slacked off so I need at least 3 younger hens for production. It's just two of us at home so 3 large fowl Breda layers should be enough with the occasional Silkie egg showing up from the two older girls. I usually stagger the ages of my hens so that they don't get old all at the same time. I had the perfect staggered ages last year with 4 birds but lost two to heat-related complications and it blew that plan all to crap and had to start all over this Spring. Now if I lose a bird this year I'll still have 4 left. I hate to think of losing a bird but that's reality for you! It happens sometimes. When I first started with chickens it was just to have two bantam "pets" but then I added a couple Leghorns, a Marans, and an Ameraucana to make a colorful egg basket. Wrong plan. Different color egg layers are not all compatible flockmates and I had to re-home the common egg layers and dual purpose in lieu of keeping the smaller gentler docile large fowl to mix with the Silkies and gentle Ameraucana. We tried a lighterweight Breda and she was the perfect answer to mix with the docile timid breeds and she was a good layer too. I've ordered two more Breda because they surprised us with their good temperament and production.

My first batch of chickens was 6, that way we got enough eggs for ourselves, plus eggs for the neighbors to keep them happy. Then I moved to a nice 2 acre lot and bought an incubator. I now have enough eggs to feed our family, the neighbors (at least the nice ones), folks in my office, folks in my father's office, my friends, and the people I volunteer with, and anyone that asks for them. I'm only zoned for 6. But I have very much surpassed that number a long time ago.

Here are the latest additions!!

Each coop has different aged babies.



These all hatched in February....



These were in March.


Figure half will be boys that get rehomed, and then I sell most of the girls. But this way I have a steady stream of hatching chickens, and I get all the breeds that I want, for a colorful egg basket.

 

[Calichicken2015]

Hey all,

I am an aspiring chicken owner but wanted to make sure I have all my chicks in a row before I take the plunge. My first concern is whether or not I can actually have them. I live in Whittier, which looks like it's an apparent no-go, but I live in an area that is considered unincorporated LA county, which, if I'm not mistaken, is what guides me. There was a thread here about Whittier, but it seems to be a little unknown, so I was hoping someone had a better idea on which rules I need to follow.

Hi! All you have to do is contact City Hall and ask about the zoning codes for your address. Don't give up IF they scratch their heads with: I DUNNO. U can also go online to find zoning codes for Whittier. Good Luck. ALSO: if yer neighbors like chickens U can prolly sneak em in regardless.
Yes, I am a terrible enabler

LOL....I am them same way!!! Unless they disrupt the neighbors...neighbors typically do not mind

From what I've read, it needs to be 20 feet from my residence, 35 feet from my neighbors residence, and 5 feet from fence lines. I live on a corner lot next to a huge county park so I only have one neighbor who runs a softball training program in his back yard and rescues huskies. As long as there isn't a rooster around, I'm not worried about him. I do have the yard space to accommodate 5 chickens with ease.

Sounds about right! I lived in Orange for years and ours had to follow specific guidelines for placement away from neighbor property lines. Sounds like you have an ideal situation with only one neighbor..and an animal lover at that!!! Welcome to the chicken world!!!

 

[Calichicken2015]

My first batch of chickens was 6, that way we got enough eggs for ourselves, plus eggs for the neighbors to keep them happy. Then I moved to a nice 2 acre lot and bought an incubator. I now have enough eggs to feed our family, the neighbors (at least the nice ones), folks in my office, folks in my father's office, my friends, and the people I volunteer with, and anyone that asks for them. I'm only zoned for 6. But I have very much surpassed that number a long time ago.

Here are the latest additions!!

Each coop has different aged babies.



These all hatched in February....



These were in March.


Figure half will be boys that get rehomed, and then I sell most of the girls. But this way I have a steady stream of hatching chickens, and I get all the breeds that I want, for a colorful egg basket.

Nice set up! You are only zoned for 6 on a 2 acre lot???? That seems crazy!!!!

 

[Jessimom]

Nice set up! You are only zoned for 6 on a 2 acre lot???? That seems crazy!!!!

I'm not zoned for ANY. But I signed my daughter up for 4H, which in a weird way allows me to have 6 A girl in 4H sued the city to allow non zoned ares at least 5000K feet to have up to 6 hens.

I'll eventually change my zoning, but we have other items to take care of first.

 

[Sylvester017]

My first batch of chickens was 6, that way we got enough eggs for ourselves, plus eggs for the neighbors to keep them happy. Then I moved to a nice 2 acre lot and bought an incubator. I now have enough eggs to feed our family, the neighbors (at least the nice ones), folks in my office, folks in my father's office, my friends, and the people I volunteer with, and anyone that asks for them. I'm only zoned for 6. But I have very much surpassed that number a long time ago.

Here are the latest additions!!

Each coop has different aged babies.



These all hatched in February....



These were in March.


Figure half will be boys that get rehomed, and then I sell most of the girls. But this way I have a steady stream of hatching chickens, and I get all the breeds that I want, for a colorful egg basket.

That is so nice to have enough space to do that! Beautiful set-up! Do you keep any roos for your own freezer? Seems a shame to rehome roos after spending money to hatch, feed, and raise them.