Currently my city is debating whether or not to allow residents to keep chickens. The initial meeting on November 18th allowed residents to voice their opinions--many are in favor of being allowed to raise 4-6 chickens--however, nothing will be decided until the December 16th meeting.
Let me be clear to all chicken nay-sayers, there is not going to be a chicken apocalypse--it's only 4-6 hens and roosters are not allowed. No noise. No chicken apocalypse. Calm down. Do some research, heed the advice of those more knowledgeable about raising micro-flocks, and stop being ignorant.
Let me be clear to all chicken nay-sayers, there is not going to be a chicken apocalypse--it's only 4-6 hens and roosters are not allowed. No noise. No chicken apocalypse. Calm down. Do some research, heed the advice of those more knowledgeable about raising micro-flocks, and stop being ignorant.
It's always amusing to me that the citizens are vastly more knowledgeable on the subject of raising micro-flocks, while the officials--who haven't bothered to do any of their own research--ask absurd questions like "What is a chicken coop?" and then spend fifteen minutes trying to figure out what one is. Really!? My friends' 18 month-old daughter knows what a chicken coop is. Please note Exhibit A.
Notice that a coop can be safe, functional, and attractive. This coop is great for a micro-flock of 4-6 hens. And, best of all, there are detailed building directions on backyardchickens.com for coops of all shapes, sizes and styles. The site also provides a well of chicken information like Raising Chickens 101.
My sister is really excited about the possibility of raising a micro-flock and she's becoming quite the eggspert--sorry, I couldn't help myself. Anyway, if you head over to her blog, S^5: Small Steps toward Self-Sufficient Sustainability, you can learn everything about the city meeting, coops, chickens, and more. Personally, I hoping for some colorful eggs like blue or green--as long as the breed of chicken is suitable to our environment. Arauncanas and Ameraucanas are two breeds that lay light-blue eggs and they are non-aggressive and cold-hardy--which will be very good for Michigan winters. Brahmas are also choice as they are gentle and both cold and heat-hardy. They lay brown eggs, but they sure are one eye-catching bird.
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| Exhibit A: Chicken Coop |
My sister is really excited about the possibility of raising a micro-flock and she's becoming quite the eggspert--sorry, I couldn't help myself. Anyway, if you head over to her blog, S^5: Small Steps toward Self-Sufficient Sustainability, you can learn everything about the city meeting, coops, chickens, and more. Personally, I hoping for some colorful eggs like blue or green--as long as the breed of chicken is suitable to our environment. Arauncanas and Ameraucanas are two breeds that lay light-blue eggs and they are non-aggressive and cold-hardy--which will be very good for Michigan winters. Brahmas are also choice as they are gentle and both cold and heat-hardy. They lay brown eggs, but they sure are one eye-catching bird. |
| Left: Ameraucanas--Center: Brahma--Right: Arauncana with chicks |
These two websites have proved very helpful in our chicken research: this site has a great comprehensive chart [link] and this site has great breed recommendations for backyard flocks [link].
The novel City Chicks: Keeping Micro-flocks of Chickens as Garden Helpers, Compost Makers, Bio-recyclers, and Local Food Producers is a great book to check out.
Do some research and learn how great raising a micro-flock of your own can be and stay tuned for an update on the great chicken debate in Portage--meeting December 16th.
I've always wanted to raise chickens myselft! I think it is very interesting that the Arauncanas and Ameraucanas lay light blue eggs. How awesome!
ReplyDeleteI have 12 chickens that i have had for 2 years now. I built them a chicken soup outside behind my house that i used scrap lumber from previous buildings and it looks just like a miniature house. The one thing that people need to know before they invest in chickens is that they are a full time job with the feeding cleaning of the coup and gathering of the eggs. on the plus side your getting pretty cheap eggs just the cost of the grain to feed them. On the negative side don't get a lot of chickens if you don't eat a lot of eggs. right now I am up to a dozen eggs a day which is kinda ridiculous. It's nice thought you can give some eggs away to your family members like I do which is where most of my eggs are going now. But yeah there fun to have and watch as they forage through your yard and they need a lot of space if you want free range chickens.
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