Tennessee

[CESOrtega]

I know where Keltons is. I think I am going to try going up to the place in Lebanon that was suggested and see what they have. Depending on how that goes, I might try Purina from Kelton's. Funny, I went in Keltons once to check out the chicken feed and when I asked the girl behind the counter she looked at me like I was crazy. Said they didn't carry it and sent me to wild bird food. D'oh.

Burtschickens, are you just living under the radar since the ordinance allowing chickens didn't pass? Some of these laws are so silly.

I don't think I am supposed to have chickens, either, because of my subdivision by-laws. However, we are in the county and have two acres. So far I've not had any complaints, including my nosy neighbor behind me and he knows everyones' business.

 

[soldieratheart]

Hi LittleFeat,

Yeah looks like chickens are pretty popular up here, there's a bunch of us isn't there? I am so new though, my DH is still shaking his head in amazement at our new chicks. I love our acreage but we really didn't know what to look for when we moved here, so the house is way too big, too much maintenance, and the land is not fenced except up against the road (no enclosed area though). It is too beautiful for us to want to move but at the same time I wish we had been a little smarter about house hunting.

So... anyone know of any good land in the area that is 1) fenced 2) has usable barns and outbuildings and 3) has a house with several bedrooms?

 

[theburtschickens]

CESortega, yes, kind of. We don't mind being illegal if it's something we believe in.

Currently, the law is ambiguous. A month or two ago, there were two ordinances proposed...one that would specifically prohibit keeping chickens in city limits if you didn't have 5 or more acres, and one (by councilman Holleman) that would allow a limited number of chickens per lot size in city limits with many restrictions (no roos, has to be a certain number of feet from buildings and property lines, feed containers closed, etc. It was still very conservative, and I didn't like it because it would prevent many low income families with small lots from having enough hens to feed the fam.

Neither passed. The bill allowing chickens was voted down first, even though many citizens including my wife and I spoke up for chickens and food security and local food production and quality of fresh eggs etc etc.

Just a week or two ago, the other was "deferred indefinitely," so the law is still ambiguous.

Our hopes are still high for a good chicken law, though. There are a lot of urban Nashvillians who have/want chickens.

Until then, we'll go under radar...speaking of which, I'm going to go tell Lady McBeth to shut up and lay the egg already so the neighbors don't hear.

 

[redhawkou812]

Lots of us here - we're from Joelton

 

[monita]

here from columbia... well, closer to franklin. anyone close to me?

 

[LittleFeat]

Hey Monita! I'm in Murfreesboro and work in Cool Springs. Welcome to the forum....I'm assuming you're new here? I just started this summer with chickens myself.

 

[redhawkou812]

Welcome, Monita. We're in Joelton, just north of Nashvegas. WE just started with chickens this year, too. But we're hooked. Little Feat, did ya get that name as in the music by Llittle Feat? Love 'em!

 

[LittleFeat]

Quote:
Yes but also as a play on words that building the coop was a Little (actually BIG) Feat and chickens have Little Feet. But I LOVE the group too!!

 

[monita]

thanks guys... like i said i just started with chickens and wasn't realy planing on incubating eggs but i couldn't let the babies die when my banty abandoned her nest. i just went and spent over $100.00 on egg incubating and hatching supplies.... costly but so rewarding!!

 

[bibliophile birds]

hi! i'm a newbie over in Maryville (south of Knoxville, right next to the Smokies). anyone else out this way?