Phone call with mayor about backyard chickens

[TMarie]

Our mayor just responded to my email asking me to call him to further discuss allowing residents to have backyard chickens.
I was hoping to get more info from you guys, since I've never owned chickens but would like the opportunity to do so in the future.
He says if it is allowed, then you would only be allowed 2 chickens per a certain amount of land, but 6 chickens max.
His point is that it wouldnt be cost effective for feeding a family, plus sanitation, attracting coyotes, noise (even though wed only be allowed hens).

My point is that I want to know where my food comes from. These eggs from the store that are so called "free range" are $4 a dozen. And I don't have much faith in their label, considering these days all food seems to be packed with hormones, pesticides, etc. I think it would be healthier and more reassuring to produce our own eggs the way we produce our own fruits and vegetables.

I have a small family, and a small yard. Would it be cost effective to have 2 hens? How much does an avg hen lay each day? I don't cook eggs every day, but the most I cook in a morning is 5 eggs.

If you guys could give me more points to support my case and to argue his, that would be very appreciated, thank you!

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I agree that the value of raising hens goes beyond just cost. You can say the same thing about gardening. Hens lay at most one egg a day. I personally think there would be very little difference in raising 2 hens or 3 hens as far as anything that would affect neighbors. The coop would only have to be slightly larger.

I would look into what others have done to change local chicken laws: you may have already checked out this link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/316045/direct-links-to-help-you-change-your-local-chicken-l-o-r-e

Perhaps you can start by returning his call and thank him for the opportunity to have a discussion. Then you could ask if you could forward a couple of informational resources by email. Once you have done the research and chosen a couple of resources, it will give you a good place to start your conversation.

Maybe you can also post on your state's thread to find out if anyone in your area has an interest in chickens or if nearby towns have set up ordinances: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/270925/find-your-states-thread

Good luck!

 

[EvilleGardener]

This is a comprehensive article from Environment Law Reporter (33 pages) that covers nearly everything you need to know about urban chickens. The writer covers stastics of the 100 most populated cities and their ordinances for backyard chickens. Of the 100 cities, 94% allow for chickens in some manner. The article lists reasons for keeping chickens, dispels myths about their keep, and provides sample ordinances for proposals to zoning commissions.

http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2119494

The first step I would take is to create a petition. There are some pretty good ones online as well. Here's an example:

Chickens are currently allowed in Urban and residential areas across the country. Portland Oregon, San Antonio Texas, Charlotte North Carolina, are only three of the 166 U.S. cities that support chicken flocks in urban neighborhoods. There are 11 cities in Florida alone that allow for backyard chicken coops, and in May, 2012 Orlando, passed their chicken pilot program due to overwhelming community support.
We are petitioning to the Board of Commisioners in Lee County Florida to allow for the keeping of small poultry flocks, allowing for limitations, in residential neighborhoods. Suggested limitations could include the number of chicken that can be kept, size of coop, permits, presence of roosters, etc.
The benefits of small scale backyard flocks are but not limited to:
1. A flock produces eggs higher in protein, vitamins and omega 3s and lower in cholesterol than eggs produced on factory farms.
2. These eggs are produced without chemicals, hormones, medications, or antibiotics making them healthier great for those with allergies.
3. Chickens are a great way to control most common backyard pests including fleas and cockroaches. They will also eat many weeds to help control your yard.
4. Chickens produce wonderful compost. No more buying chemical fertilizers for your garden!
5. Communities benefit economically when families are able to produce their own food. This helps people to live sustainably and reduce the amount they spend on groceries.
6. Garden centers, hardware stores, and pet stores will benefit when the poultry keeper needs supplies.
7. You only need two hens per family memeber to have enough eggs for your family. Some breeds will supply up to an egg a day.
Everyone benefits from the keeping of these wonderful dosile birds that only ask for a warm nest and a little scratch in return for all they give.

Good luck!

 

[chfite]

"His point is that it wouldnt be cost effective for feeding a family, plus sanitation, attracting coyotes, noise (even though wed only be allowed hens)."

Is likely just his opinion. The cost effectiveness of dogs and cats probably falls into the same realm.

Reading all you can about the topic at hand gives you something to show and discuss. So many folks take to heart things that they hear, anecdotes from some brother-in-law's neighbor, read on the internet.

Being knowledgeable and prepared is the best approach. When I look at some of the chicken laws, I wonder where do they get this stuff?

The failed chicken ordinance here would have required a building permit for a coop. You can't make this stuff up.

Chris

 

[cafarmgirl]

Well in truth his points are valid, the problem is they don't address why most people want to keep a few laying hens. Taking care of my hens costs me way more then it would to just buy eggs at the grocery store, so from that standpoint alone, no it's not cost effective at all. But that's not my reason for doing it anyway.

Yes, predators are interested in them, no way around that one.

Sanitation? Not any different then owning any other pet, like a dog or cat etc.

Noise is another factor that he is not wrong about, even if you don't have a rooster, although only 2 or 3 hens won't be too bad at all. I have both standard and bantam hens and they are all noisy as heck when they lay an egg. Granted it doesn't last long and even that is nothing compared to listening to neighbor's dogs barking incessantly!

I certainly applaud him for contacting you and being willing to hear what you have to say. Your on the right track, gather lots of good info. and have a chat with the man. It sounds like he's already considering it and just needs some good info. to back it up.

 

[epmchickens]

Let's see. 2 hens per person in your house is a good place to start for keeping everyone feed. Predators? Nope, unless it is something already in the area it isn't gonna come running for your flock just because they are there. I pay about 15 dollars for a 25 pound bag of layer crumbles.... for 6 or less hens that is about what you would pay to feed a dog. If you use multipurpose sand in the coop there is almost no mess when it comes to clean up. And its cheap!!!! Plus, free fertilizer for your plants. Mind the nitrate level in their droppings though, too potent and they will burn the plants. But really..... 2-4 dollars for a dozen eggs against knowing where your eggs are coming from is no object in my mind. Just do your reading and you'll be able to run rings around this guy in no time. Good luck!