Legalize it, mon, don't criticize it! Excerpt from the Christian Science Monitor's report:
Citing unsanctioned henhouses in Denver, Boston, and other cities, Worldwatch's Ben Block notes that an "underground 'urban chicken' movement has swept across the United States in recent years," flouting authorities' concerns about noise, odors, and public health.But in some cities, such as Ann Arbor, Mich., Ft. Collins, Colo., South Portland, Maine, and Madison, Wisc., owners of these clandestine coops have successfully changed the laws to allow them to keep a limited number of hens. (Roosters, whose characteristic crowing can disturb neighbors, are usually more restricted, but they're not needed for hens to lay unfertilized eggs.)
Many large US cities, including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, and Seattle apparently never thought to ban the domesticated fowl within city limits. These cities have served as an incubator of sorts for the emerging movement, in which urban henkeepers post online tips on building coops, caring for the birds, and fending off raccoons and other predators.
See BackyardChickens for more info. I've just been out in the backyard wranging our trio of hens, chasing them under the fig tree and all over creation, trying to get them into the chicken tractor. Quite a workout, I must say. Dumb clucks!
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Seattle allows up to six animals ( chickens, dogs, cats, pigs ) on a lot before you have to file for a kennel license. The chicken movement has always been strong here, in fact there is an annual "Tour of the Coops"
Seattle Tilth
Minneapolis and many surrounding communities allow chickens with certain restrictions. Local co-ops are offering classes on urban chicken-keeping and the classes are filling up as soon as announced.
I wouldn't worry too much about avian flu from a few backyard birds. The outbreaks in the US are in the huge (and misnamed) "biosecurity" barns. Birds stacked up on top of each other in cages have weakened immune systems. The outbreaks of avian flu in Europe and Asia follow highways, not bird migration flight patterns.
The organic flocks in the Midwest are all kept outdoors. The commercially-raised flocks are in the wild bird migration flight patterns and landing zones. Not a case of avian flu in the decades they have been raising them.
Just don't get too intimate with the critters - don't kiss them, wash your hands immediately after contact, and do not touch your face before you do that.
I love watching hens interact with their chicks, how the little ones hide under the hen's wings or sometimes hop on her back for a ride. Natural behavior that battery hens never get to express.
If I ever keep a couple chickens it will be just to have them. Being vegetarian I don't eat them.
Reminds me, though, of a family story. One of my husband's uncles grew up in an older, crowded ethnic neighborhood at a time when people still did keep chickens. One particular rooster used to crow quite loudly and early and one morning I guess Uncle Edwin was feeling a bit crabby and dispatched Mr. Rooster with a shot from the bedroom window.
My husband still breaks up chortling about it. I was not amused.
Rod--prop up the chicken tractor on one end, and put the food and water inside it. Do you have a place inside it to roost, off the ground? Do these things, and the chickens will return to it at dusk.
Brian, Have you tried chatting with the neighbor about the noisy rooster? Seems it would be a fairly "crunchy" thing to do--talk with the neighbor before calling the police.
We normally have six hens in our backyard, but it has been a rough summer and we are down to just two at the moment. Plans are underway to get some replacement chicks. My biggest trouble is that we let them free-range and they get a case of wanderlust. A couple of weeks ago I met a neighbor around the block from me when I had to knock on his door to ask permission to access his backyard where one of my girls was scratching about. He kindly got his dog in and helped me corner the naughty little thing.
We LOVE having chickens. The children want a miniature horse next.
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