So Cal peeps!!

[ChickieMart]

Thanks for all the welcomes.
I have researched my City's ordinances - I am allowed "5 birds/5,000 sf of lot space with a minimum lot size of 5,000 sf". That is "birds" - not specific on species or gender. Since a coop is not a dwelling unit (for people) and not a storage space of 200 sf or more, it doesn't require a permit. Since I have an 11,000 sf lot, I assume I could have up to 11 birds. I only have 6 birds (no roosters!), so there's room to expand if I want. For now my neighbors are intrigued and ask me questions - like "are they hard to care for?" or "how many eggs do you get?" Most of them tell me they don't hear the girls squawk, but the ones that do hear them tell me "it is a lovely sound".
I do plan to share eggs - as I share fruit from my fruit trees. Plus I am nice to my neighbors and give them fudge and cookies every Christmas.
After all, these are the folks that watch my house when I am gone

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

The members have given you great advice.

Good luck and welcome to our flock!

 

[ChickieMart]

Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to our flock. Black Australorps are my favorite standard breed. I've raised them for years (along with dozens of other breeds), and they are extremely hardy, calm and gentle (my children, and now my granddaughter, made lap pets of them), and excellent layers of large, brown eggs. Please feel free to ask any other questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your flock.

Are black australorps known for being bullies? While mine is the smallest girl in my diverse flock, she is the biggest bully and picks on all the girls. It's like she has little chicken complex!! Twice now we have introduced a new girl to the flock and she just pecks them relentlessly. Before she backed off a little bit after a week. The other girls don't really care - sure they peck a little when others get in the way. The BA will chase the new bird - even though there is plenty of room to roam. I let my girls out to free range during the day. I try to distract them with scratch.
I understand there will be some pecking going on with the addition of a new bird. It is just funny how she stalks the new girl constantly. We are keeping an eye on them to make sure it doesn't get violent.

 

[Michael OShay]

Are black australorps known for being bullies?

Not normally. In fact, because of their calm and gentle nature (and depending on which other breeds they are with), they are often on the bottom of the pecking order. However, there are always exceptions with any breed, and it sounds like your girl, being on the small side, does have a complex. Perhaps she feels the overwhelming need to prove that she belongs with the big girls. )

 

[ChickyChickens]

Welcome to BYC!!! There are loads of members on here…so if you have ANY questions…just ASK!!!

Hope you have loads of fun and all your answers answered here on BYC the BEST CHICKEN KEEPING FORUM on EARTH!!

 

[leilanio]

From one So Cal Gal to another.... Welcome to the best resource for all things chicken! We are relatively new to the chicken world and I find I can literally spend hours on this site hopping around and reading how to do better for the girls. Ask away and someone will answer...

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!