new ordinance in Columbia MO

[ellent]

I'm a brand new member, since the city council of my town, Columbia MO, just passed an ordinance LAST NIGHT allowing up to 6 hens! Hooray! I am thinking of 4--a Buff Orpington, a Partridge Plymouth Rock, a Dominique, and either a New Hampshire Red or a Delaware. All are available from local breeders. I had been leaning toward the Delaware, because they are so pretty, but I notice on the breeds guide here that they are listed as "hot climate. " Here in Mid-MO, we have it all, from sub-zero to over 100 degrees. Does anyone have an opinion as to whether the breeds I listed are good choices for a newbie, urban/suburban hen owner?

 

[PineappleMama]

I just started a topic to ask for help translating my city's ordinance... it LOOKS like they allow chickens... and the animal control guy said "All I know is you can have four" but with the rule about 50' from neighbor's dwelling, and the fact that our neighbor's houses start just 7' from our property line... well I think we're toast.

Be sure you read the fine print. It would really bite the bullet to get your chicks, your coop, all that excitement and expense only to find that you're in violation of the nitpicky.

My topic... https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=292338 maybe you can make sense of it?

Oh and WELCOME... duh, sorry I'm on a tear. *blush*

 

[4-H chicken mom]

and

from Ohio. So glad you are able to have some chickens.

 

[Royd Wood]

and

- I'm a newcomer today too and it looks a great place for info - so many members

 

[b.hromada]

and

from S. Florida! Glad you joined us! Best of luck on keeping chickens!

 

[SunshineSteedFarm]

 

[chocolate m'scovy]

Greetings! We've raised Barred Rocks and Dominiques with no more problems than any other breed. The Dominiques are more cold-hardy because of their rose comb and are excellent foragers. (Only occasionally Dominiques will peck when laying eggs, though I just admire their maternal pluck!) I think both Delawares and New Hampshires, at least the roos, are suspect to comb damage.
Small pea or rose combs are best for cold climates. If you're open to other cold-hardy breeds, we've raised Silver Laced Wyandottes and Ameracauna/ EE's- both were not mean and have small combs. I would lean toward the EE's, as they tend to be sweeter. One poult would eat a chicken pellet out of our mouths when we held it between our teeth!

 

[texasgal]

A big Texas size