From Belle City Chickens

Contents 1 Why is owning and raising backyard chickens good for our community? 2 I thought Chickens were really noisy? 3 Do you need a rooster for hens to lay eggs? 4 Do chickens attract vermin? 5 Are chickens stinky? 6 Do backyard chickens pose health risks? 7 What would our ordinance look like? 8 What other U.S. Cities permit backyard chickens?

Why is owning and raising backyard chickens good for our community?

• Chickens are great family pets and make wonderful education tools for children
• Chickens are easy and inexpensive to own
• Fresh eggs are healthier and better tasting than store bought ones
• Great for insect and weed control
• Free fertilizer for the garden and their waste is compostable, unlike cats or dogs
• Chickens are great recyclers; they use up kitchen scraps
• Locally sourced food is better for you and better for the environment

I thought Chickens were really noisy?

A very small group of backyard chickens make little noise. Roosters can be noisy, but hens only cackle a bit when they lay an egg and might squawk when disturbed by a stranger or animal. However, cars, kids, barking dogs, and the radios of city life certainly make it hard to hear 4 chickens in a backyard coop.

Do you need a rooster for hens to lay eggs?

Roosters are NOT needed for hens to lay eggs. That means no early morning crowing and very little noise. The ordinance we are proposing, like so many others, would prohibit keeping roosters.

Do chickens attract vermin?

Chicken food could attract vermin, not the birds themselves. Maintaining a clean operation minimizes the chance of attracting vermin. Like with any pet, if their food is left in the open, vermin would be an issue. Chicken owners must keep their small coop clean and well cared for.

Are chickens stinky?

Chicken farms are smelly, not backyard chickens. Four pet chickens make far less waste per week than a dog or a cat. Just like a dog or cat, backyard chickens do not smell offensive when properly cared for.

Do backyard chickens pose health risks?

According to the Minnesota Department of Health there are no health concerns regarding backyard flocks because they involve such a small number of birds. Chickens raised in clean, well maintained conditions are healthy birds.

What would our ordinance look like?

Like other cities that successfully allow urban chickens, good rules like these make programs run smoothly:

• Owners are only permitted to own up to 4 hens
• Roosters are prohibited
• Hens must be kept in coops
• Coops must be kept clean, attractive, and well-maintained
• Coops must be kept a minimum distance from neighboring houses
• Chickens can not be slaughtered
• Chickens must be enclosed and are not permitted to run free

What other U.S. Cities permit backyard chickens?

• Madison, WI
• Chicago, IL
• Ann Arbor, MI
• Portland, OR
• Seattle, WA
• Atlanta, GA
• St. Louis, MO
• Fort Collins, CO
• Minneapolis, MN
• New York City, NY
• And many, many more!