Raise Chickens in an Urban Back Yard
Do Zoning Regulations Allow Chickens in the City?
For those of us who are trying to reduce our grocery costs or prefer to eat organic food that we've raised ourselves, keeping a few chickens in the back yard might be an option worth considering. Don't think you can have chickens in an urban neighborhood? You might be surprised at the answer.
Chickens and your city ordinance
While most city ordinances prohibit a homeowner from having a full fledged chicken farm in the back yard, in many communities citizens are allowed to keep a few hens for raising eggs. The ordinances do vary but in my city, chickens are regarded as "pets" and citizens are allowed to have up to three as long as they are kept in a fenced enclosure and the cages are kept clean and odor free. The cages are not allowed to be in property setbacks, and roosters aren't permitted at all.
A random sampling of other municipalities seems to indicate that chickens are also permitted within their city limits, as long as the number is limited and the chickens aren't disruptive to the neighbors. Certain cities, such as San Francisco require that the coops are kept a certain distance away from adjacent residential structures. Other communities require that the chickens be licensed, or that the coops have to be screened during the summer months to contain flies.
However, for homeowners living in a neighborhood association with tightly enforced covenants, chickens and other types of poultry might be prohibited by the CCRs regardless of the city ordinance.
Since ordinances do vary from city to city, it's always best to call City Hall before building that chicken coop.
Space requirements
So how space is needed to raise a few chickens? According to county extension agents, laying hens need at least 1.5 square feet of space inside the coop, and eight square feet of run. For three chickens, an 8 x 6 foot fenced run is about the right size. For many families, a fenced run of this size can fit rather nicely in a back yard.
Chickens really don't require that much space, are easy to care for, and can keep a family well supplied in eggs. With most chickens producing between 18 to 20 dozen eggs in a single year, this can really make a difference in lowering a family's grocery bill.
For more information about raising chickens in your back yard, visit your local County Extension Agent or visit one of the following helpful sites:
resources:
www.backyardchickens.com
www.kindplanet.org/chickencare.html
www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/poultry/factsheets/10.html
Published by C. Jeanne Heida - Featured Contributor in Business & Finance and Lifestyle
Jeanne is a small business owner with 25 years experience in the real estate industry. A consistent Y!CN Top 100 writer, her articles can be found at Y!Finance, Shine, Your Wisdom, DEX, and the Scripps Net... View profile
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10 Comments
Post a CommentGreat Article. I just wrote one on Growing Your Own Food and mentioned chickens as well. I have 5 hens and one rooster and enjoy raising them and the eggs are wonderful! Everyone should try it, if possible.
Most of the cities around me have ordinences against having chickens at all. A lot of people do it anyway though. I have a little farm and I'm very happy to have chickens and fresh eggs everyday! Great article!
I've joked about getting a couple of hens. I didn't know some cities or towns allowed this at all. Sounds like the way to go!
i wouldlove to have em
Excellent info. I even read about someone who did this in New York. I am intrigued but have some memories of getting pecked by chickens.
Interesting!!!
Fresh eggs are the best, good article :) Sheri
I swear you're in my head, I was just thinking of writing an article on raising chooks(aussie chickens lol)
I loved the price of eggs here in the states, now they are just like home, what a shocker. How ironic. That was great thanks.
My Mom and Aunt and Uncle live by the lake and they have chickens. We get free eggs all the time and sometimes fried chicken..
When I was little, my great grandmother raised chickens in her back yard. My job was to gather the eggs. I hated it, when they killed a chicken for dinner though.