Research for a City Council Member

[MixedFowl]

Hi, I am a high schooler and I go to the career tech center in Ionia, Michigan. The vice principal at the tech center is on the city council and they are going to think about changing the city ordinance banning nondomestic(fowl mentioned as). As the resident poultry expert he asked if I could research some things so he could be informed and inform the other board members. Most of the people who want dogs seem to want eggs. My questions are how many chickens should be the max; should they be free range, in a cage, or a coop; should the coop be required to be a certained distance from property lines(how far); what building materials for the coop; and is there any other research/ info I need to know or read? One thing already decided is no roosters. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[MixedFowl]

Chickens not dogs

 

[wayner123]

I am a little confused. What does the current code say? If you could post a link, that would help as Ionia, Michigan code is not on municode.

 

[Tjschicks1817]

I start by saying people should be allowed to have as many chicken as they please. But since the government feels the need to set limits on everything we do I guess 12 would be a fair number. And since the government feels the need to tell us where to put our chicken coops on our own properties I guess 50' from any property. As far as free range or coop I would think common sense could work, as long as somebody's chickens aren't roaming on others property whats the problem. Coop inspections are downright WRONG. We aren't little kids needing to be watched over, We are Men and Women in a Free country. That'll be the end of my rant. Good luck.

 

[MixedFowl]

The current code bans all nondomestic animals, all fowl are specified as nondomestic. And to Tj I understand your stand on the issue(I live on a hobby farm) but this is a city and they are allowed. I also admire my vice principal for asking for my help and opinion, he didn't have to keep an open mind or research that.

 

[wayner123]

The current code bans all nondomestic animals, all fowl are specified as nondomestic. And to Tj I understand your stand on the issue(I live on a hobby farm) but this is a city and they are allowed. I also admire my vice principal for asking for my help and opinion, he didn't have to keep an open mind or research that.

I am still confused. Are they allowed or not? And if you claim they are domestic, does that bring them out from under the restriction?

I have been in a 3 year battle with our city and we just got it passed last month. So be prepared for a long fight.

 

[MixedFowl]

I'm actually not fighting just doing research for my vice principal(he is on city council) they are banned but the city council is thinking about changing the code to allow chickens. Right now it doesn't matter if they are actsully domestic or not they are considered nondomestic according to the code.

 

[wayner123]

I just looked up the code in question. I cannot find any restriction of keeping chickens. This is the only restriction they have:

608.05 DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND FOWL.
No person shall keep or house any animals or domestic fowl within the City except dogs, cats, birds, or other animals commonly classified as pets.


It allows birds commonly classified as pets. Chickens are classified as pets. They have a 8,000 year history being domesticated among humans. I think your principal doesn't understand the Ordinance.

 

[Torch404]

IT seems like they don't need to come up with new codes to regulate how many and coop space. You just need to reclassify chickens as ok in city limits. If you've got to put limits make the flock size big (24?) and the distance from others dwellings short (15ft?). That way if they change over time they are not already at the bare minimum. That leaves the individual some say in their neighborhood, if my neighbors don't mind my chickens on their lawn, who's the city to say it's a problem? A rooster limit might be reasonable depending on how dense population is there. Certainly no inspections of coops, I've never heard of that till just recently and WOW, that is just crazy.

 

[MixedFowl]

I don't know we're coop inspections came as far as I know my vice principal doesn't know about it so I'm not mentioning it. He just wants me to research it and my opinion.