We live un the country and have chickens, turkeys, geese, dusks and guinea fowl.
I would recommend that they keep 4-6 hens only, and use something like a movable henhouse to keep them all containerized . Because it moves, you c an shift around the droppings. If you get the version on stilts you can put a tarp on the ground to collect the droppings, and use a waste disposal system to keep the crap localized while the enzymes do their thing. If you keep the chicken feed in a feed bin instead of just schlumped in a convenient corner. They also will need to provide scratch [sand or grit] and calcium [feeding back the eggshells works, though most people buy crunched up seafood shells] and a constant supply of water. They really need to get a good book on raising chickens in the urban environment or for small households. It is a bit more complex that a bugie in a cage. There are medication issues, and even breed of chicken issues [they want a layer, I can recommend aracunas - “easter egg chickens” for amusement value instead of a broiler. Broilers have special needs when it comes to feed as they grow very fast and need a high protein diet.]
Chickens are good for disposing of veggie peels and trimmings, and are actually omnivores. Yes, we have fed chickens cooked leftover chicken… :eek:
I used to have a bunch of chickens, and they can be quite loud, and smelly. As was mentioned upthread, fleas can be a problem. Fleas were a huge problem for us one summer, when weather conditions had been right for their population to explode. We did get the flea problem under control, but I am itching at the memory.
Generally, after dark, chickens in a coop will quiet down, but not always. When there was going to be a significant change in the weather, our birds went nuts, cackling and crowing without regard to the time of day or night. Granted, we also had guinea fowl, which may have influenced the behavior of our chickens, but the chickies could manage to be nearly as loud as the guineas.
I miss my chickens now that I live in a bigger town, but I would vote “no” to having chickens withing 100 feet of my home.
Though I do trust that I’d be given honest answers to any questions that I have, I believe that you are correct on all these points. The permit would not preclude a rooster.
Upon a re-read of the rule, it says that consent is required from “80% of the neighbors” within 100 feet of the neighbors property, not 100 feet of the proposed coop. This enlarges the pool and likely raises the number of “no” votes required to block this from two to three. Without a formal poll, I’m fairly confident of at least one other no vote besides me. I assume that the regulation refers to 80% of households and not 80% of individual residents, though this isn’t clear. Anyone have any thoughts on that?
Even more than dreading the presence of chickens, I think I’m dreading the effect this process will have on the block. I really don’t want to engage in active politicking against a neighbor, but it looks like that may be the position I’m in. I’ve come to the conclusion that asking to keep chickens is in and of itself, rude. As a community, we’ve agreed that we will live without them. Now and neighbor comes along and asks to be treated differently. Though this may or may not be a small thing to give up, it feels like a slippery slope to me.
Yeah, I don’t understand it either. My neighborhood has small lots (mine is 49’ x 70’) and the chickens in my neighbor’s yard can’t be more than 40’ from my (constantly open) bedroom window (with a solid wood fence between us). Yet, never hear any noide beyond the rooster (which isn’t particularly loud) and there’s no smell. Hmm…
I wonder if the disparity of experiences is because there are a gazillion different chicken breeds. I know nothing about chickens, but since I wouldn’t expect the reports of a beagle neighbor to match those of a St. Bernard neighbor, it wouldn’t surprise me to find that some breeds of chickens make good neighbors and others don’t.
I have to ask, what part of Minneapolis? For some reason, I keep picturing hippie’s in Seward wanting to get closer to their food production.
Most of Minneapolis has postage stamp sized yards.
I personally think that if people want livestock, people should move to the country. City living is not conducive to livestock, more than two dogs, or more than three cats.
Oh, Jeebus, my uncle had a neighbor with two chickens and a rooster. The rooster was HORRIBLE. Just you try sleeping in on a Satruday morning in summer when the first crack of light has the rooster going off before 5 a.m. and the stupid thing often wouldn’t shut up until almost noon!
The rooster met an “accidental” demise at the hands of another neighbor’s dog.
The Manager of Minneapolis Animal Care and Control may grant permit pursuant to this section after the applicant has sought the written consent of at least eighty (80) percent of the occupants of the several descriptions of real estate situated within one hundred (100) feet of the applicant’s real estate. Such written consent shall be required on the initial application and as often thereafter as the Manager of Minneapolis Animal Care and Control deems necessary.
I would hope not. But 100 feet gets you a few houses down and across the street. I’m a little concerned that some of the people that are farther away than me will vote yes because they don’t want conflict and they don’t think they’ll be affected.
Plus, as Contrapuntal notes…that regulation is less than clear. I’m still not completely sure what the threshold is.
By the way, my experience (with my sister’s barking dog that lived at my house) is that Minneapolis Animal Control takes complaints VERY seriously. My sister had to move or get rid of the dog. So you may have some luck if the chickens come home to roost and then you and the other neighbors decide you don’t like them.
And we couldn’t find out which neighbor was complaining.
But how long did it take and how many sleepless nites ensued? No, it’s better to say “NO” now, and avoid the problems. Anyway, it’s easier on them if you stop them before they have a lot invested in the chickens, henhouse, etc.
Hey Ass For A Hat – that “Chickens in the City” class we took was from guys that own a cooperative coop on Nicollet Island (somehow I missed that you were in Mpls on my first read through).
And an MPR link about the people who taugh the class. If you’re interested in getting in touch with the class leaders, let me know. I have their contact information, and they could give you good answers to your questions.