How many birds are in a unit?

[Levantou]

Greetings,

I am new to this site so I apologize if the answer to this question is posted elsewhere.

I am interested in purchasing some chickens to raise. I called our local township to find out how many I was allowed to have as well as anything else I needed to know and the law stated that I needed 4 acres of land for a unit of birds. The person I was speaking with had no idea how many birds were in a unit. I am assuming that a unit is quite a few but I didnt want to make any decisions until I knew what the laws were.

Thank you for any help that you can offer.

Ben

P.S.

I live in Michigan and I own 2.5 acres (don't know how much that matters.)

 

[Imp]

from Washington

I think you got some bad information. Maybe unit refers to a commercial operation. I can't even googled a decent answer. LOL

Here's what I found:

http://www.teachamantofish.org.uk/blogs/ecofinder/2007/09/beginning-of-poultry-unit.html

I think you need to ask for a copy of the regs and check it out yourself.

Maybe if you posted the town or county you live in someone here can help you

Imp

 

[Levantou]

Thanks Imp for the info. I appreciate the reply. The guy that I spoke with had no idea what to tell me. He looked something up very quickly and read it to me. He said he would look into it and get back to me but that was a week ago and I haven't heard anything.

I live in Montrose Township in Michigan.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Read the thread on the Michigan Right to Farm Law. Somewhere in it, it specifies the number of birds in a unit, and it is a lot (something like 2000, if I am remembering correctly. However, if you want a few birds, it guarantees you right to have them ANYWHERE in Michigan.

 

[Marie1234]

One agricultural unit of birds is 100 birds according to the dept of agriculture in Michigan.

 

[Levantou]

Thanks Marie1234,

Thats what I was looking for. Did you find this information online?

 

[Marie1234]

It is somewhere in the Michigan Dept of Agriculture site.... in the definitions area of the rtfa or gaamp's. As soon as I can find it I will send it to you.

 

[iajewel]

You need to call them back and ask them for specific answers. Ask them to clarify anything you don't understand.

 

[Keri78]

My philosophy is "It's easier to plead forgiveness than ask permission"!!!

If you're the kind of person that is concerned enough to call ad ask about the law then your certainly the kind of person that is going to take good care of your animals and respect your neighbors.

I would leave it alone personally...the less The Nanny State knows about my personal life the better!

But that's just me! And honestly if your talking about a small backyard flock no one is going to know the difference if you have 5 chickens or if you have 10 chickens...I mean do you know how hard it is to do a head count on these rascals!!!

Most of the time when people ask me I honestly don't know how many chickens I have unless I sit and think about it!

Oh know I think I just gave myself away as a BYC holic!!!

 

[Marie1234]

Actually, I have recently found that it is best to get everything in writing. Don't bother to use the phone. Go into the office make them print out what they have and ask the person who is giving it to you to sign and date it. Ask your local animal control officer to provide to you in writing yes or no. Ask the zoning board to do the same. And like I said, signatures and dates. If I had done that I would not be in trouble.

In 2002 I went to county zoning and asked if it was o'kay to have chickens on my five acre parcel and was told yes. Now, yes eight years later, I am being told I can't have them and have to remove them immediately or face fines. I have a lot of time and money in these birds and I am angry.