I want chickens, any kind will do-it doesn’t matter if they lay white or brown eggs, if they have feathers on their legs or a big plume on top of their head. I’ve wanted chickens for a very long time, but we live within the city limits, and, with no major move expected to the country soon, I really thought it was only a dream. Things are changing though, cities are becoming more open to allowing residents to own backyard chickens, and my dream might still be possible.
One day last week when I went to City Hall to pay a bill, I asked about keeping chickens and was told you need to own at least 10 acres. Well, that did us in, we own just under an acre. Then, the clerk said she had many inquiries, and she wished someone would go to the city council meeting and ask about keeping backyard chickens. I decided right then, if I wanted chickens, I was going to have to do this.
Why would I want chickens, you ask? Well, the fresh eggs just can’t be beat, chickens are relatively easy to raise, and then last but not least they give you the best compost for your garden, and it’s free!
I found out that East Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Ypsilanti, Michigan, all allow backyard chickens. Through one of my readers of my blog, I was given the link to the chicken ordinance from the city of Ypsilanti. The ordinance reads that you can have four hens and no rooster. Four hens are about what we had figured we wanted anyway. It also states that you can not slaughter any hens. So, they will be my forever chickens, if they want this in our ordinance. I made sure I had 8 copies one for each council member and one for the mayor.
Monday night came, and so did a bunch of nerves. When I speak in public, my face will turn red, the red starts to crawl down my neck, and then my heart pounds. So, as I sat there at the City Council meeting that night, all three things began to happen, but I ignored it all. I mean, if I let that stop me nothing would ever get accomplished.
It was such an interesting meeting – a lot of people where in the audience, many where there about paving a street, water bills, etc., some very important stuff. So, I decided when it came time for audience participation I would let most of them go first. Finally, it seemed like most of them had spoken, and I raised my hand.
What did I say? Well, I started out telling them something like I was interested in having backyard chickens, it was at that point I believe I heard a couple of snickers, but I tried to act like I didn’t hear them and continued on. I told them that according the ordinances now, I would not be allowed to keep them. I stated my reasons why I wanted chickens, and let them know about the other cities that now allow them. I let them know there usually is a limit of four or not more than six hens, and most cities will not allow roosters. I also gave them a copy of the Ypsilanti chicken ordinance, which I think went over well. I think I spoke so fast I only used up a minute of my 3 minutes of allowed time!
It seemed like all of them agreed that this was not a bad idea, and they agreed that the no rooster clause in the ordinance would be a great thing in the city. They said they would look into it, and the ordinance should be ready before spring. Just in time to order chicks. Hurray!
