Urban Chicken Farming

[Detronic]

A friend and I are planning to build a chicken coop and raising some chickens in the backyard of his house [[Cass Corridor, a few blocks south of WSU) in order to have regular access to organic eggs [[plus it seems like it would be an interesting thing to try out). My question is: Is this legal in Detroit, if not is it something worth risking?

[Detronic]

If anyone has any first-hand experience or know anyone who does i would appreciate any additional info or advice

[izzyindetroit]

it is illegal, but so are blighted buildings, tall grass, graffiti, uncleared sidewalks, etc.

farm away.

[DetroitPlanner]

I would make sure your nighbors are okay with it. They are the ones who will contact DAH if they are not. I know I would not want it by my house as if they are not kept properly they are havens for rats, desiese, and stink.

[littlebuddy]

You don't need roosters, all they do is crow and fight each other. hens are nice and quiet and lay eggs, you don't need a rooster for that. If you overfeed, rats will find the food. Let the chickens free-range somewhat if you have any room, they will eat bugs and stuff. Batams are small chickens, but put out ok sized eggs, if eggs are what you really want.

[Planner3357]

Chickens are dirty little things.

[majohnson]

Raising chickens is illegal in Detroit.

Is it worth the risk!?!
Why break the law when you don't need to?
Speeding to take your in-labor wife to the hospital, widely acknowledge as an extenuating circumstance.
Making extensive plans for days and weeks to commit a crime when you can already afford chicken?

Put your efforts into something legal and beneficial to your community.
Help bring the food of your choice to market by opening a booth inside your neighborhood grocery.
Or help raise the money to renovate the grocery deli counter and split the resulting sales.
Or have a community meeting with the grocery expressing support for fresh natural/organic meats to be sold at the deli counter.
Or if you really want chickens get together with the criminals raising chickens and ask city council to create a tax revenue generating permit.

I'm in Detroit, so I do what I wanna do!

[SWMAP]

I have seen chicken coops in North Corktown. But it looked like a big, expansive property. The lamented Birdtown pet store seemed to have chicken coops on the property next to them on Cass Ave. but I think they may have gotten into trouble over it [[if the birds were theirs) as those coops disappeared long before the store closed.

[Hypestyles]

I support this- there needs to be more fresh chicken options in the city. Chickens can be sold to local restaurants, maybe a place at eastern market.. What needs to happen in the City charter/zoning to allow for these types of farming?

[rsa.313]

illegal. if you have close neighbors, it's also gross, noisy, and inconsiderate. they can easily report you and it's an easily enforceable violation.

Sec. 6-1-1. Definitions.
Farm animal means, but is not limited to, a cow, a donkey, a goat, a horse, a llama, a mule, a pony, poultry, sheep, swine, or any animal held or raised for purposes of food or other commercial consumption.
[[Ord. No. 04-04, § 1, 1-30-04)

Sec. 6-1-3. Owning, harboring, keeping, maintaining, selling or transferring of farm or wild animals prohibited; exception for circuses, zoos, and other approved activities; separate violations for each animal; disposition of animals in violation of this section.
[[a) It shall be unlawful for a person to own, harbor, keep, or maintain, sell, or transfer any farm animal, or any wild animal, on their premises or at a public place within the City; provided, that farm animals or wild animals may be kept in circuses, zoos, or laboratories, subject to the approval of the City, where the care or custody is under the care of a trained and qualified animal attendant at all times, whose responsibility shall be to see that such animals are securely under restraint.
[[b) Each farm animal, or wild animal, that is owned, kept, maintained, sold or transferred contrary to subsection [[a) of this section shall constitute a separate violation of this section.
[[c) The Animal Control Division is authorized to sell, transfer, euthanize, or dispose of any animal owned, kept, maintained, sold or transferred in violation of this section in a manner consistent with the protection of the public health, acceptable humane practices, and any applicable established City guidelines and procedures.
[[Ord. No. 04-04, § 1, 1-30-04)

[Umbound]

If you get Hens Detronic you could generate revenue via underground cock fighting scene.

[SWMAP]

I have to say that the complaints about noise are a little overwrought in my opinion. Tons of people in SW Detroit keep birds. Some have roosters. I am a VERY LIGHT sleeper and I have no trouble at all with the bird noises. Cars with sound systems and cars with no mufflers [[most of detroit) are infinitely more upsetting.

[socks_mahoney]

I had neighbors a couple summers back that had 3-4 chickens. No roosters, they didnt need them.

The complaints about noise/smell are way overblown. I never found it smelly or problematic at all. In fact I kind of enjoyed going out back and hanging out with them squawking at me from the other side of the fence.

Let your neighbors know you'll be happy to take their food waste to feed the chickens and/or give them a few eggs when they are laid. I doubt they will care especially if its in the WSU/Cass Corridor area.

Even if someone complains, by the time the city gets to you, it may be october and the chickens could be getting ready to go to a farm/barn for the winter.

go for it.

[Hypestyles]

...no rooster.. do the lady chickens get pregnant on their own? is this due to genegineering?

[courtney]

...no rooster.. do the lady chickens get pregnant on their own? is this due to genegineering?

Uhm.

Hens [[aka "lady chickens") lay eggs with or without a rooster. If there isn't a rooster around, however, the egg won't be fertilized and nothing will hatch from it no matter how long you sit on it.

[[I really hope that this was a fake question. Really, I do.)

[georgem]

Detronic : Here's my chicken info. I live in Northeast Ohio, about 25 miles south of Cleveland. When I was a kid, my Dad ALWAYS had a couple dozen chickens in the back yard. The roosters do crow alot, and fight with each other. The biggest ones, can be mean S.O.B."s. And, like littlebuddy said, too much food, will bring rats. You have to have a sturdy fence, to keep out dogs & foxes. And THEN, when it comes time to " process " your fowl, you chop their heads off, and you have this headless bird flopping around, with blood squirting out. Then he had to pluck the feathers, by dunking them into a tub of boiling water. A nasty smell. Wet, hot chicken feathers. I was too young to do this, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I'm 53 years old now, and I freakin HATE chickens. I don't even like chicken sammiches from MickyD's. Would'nt it be easier to just go to the grocery store, and buy organic eggs? That's just my 2 cents worth. Did I mention, that I HATE chickens!

[GUSHI]

I remember when I lived in the Detroit/Hamtramck border going to a Yeman store and my dad purchasing a live chicken and the owner of the store chopping his head off in front of me. I was like 8 years old it scared the sh*t outta me I would not eat it. I lalso remeber my neighbor bring home a live lamb that he bought from a farm in Armada/Romoeo and killing it in the basement and skining/gutting it.
I love chicken, nut I prefer Meijer/meat market.

[Django]

I know several chicken coops in Detroit, one I built a coop for on Hancock near campus. Ive never heard of a complaint except for the one coop that had a rooster down the street from my old house. I love chicken[[s), did I mention I love chicken[[s). When they slow down on the egg production you can eat them. Everyone should kill their own food at least once in their lives.

Go for it, there are some beautiful breeds you can raise also as well as supply yourself with fresh eggs and meat.

Illegal? what Izzy said^ Ive never heard of anyone having any trouble with the law.

Ive always wanted chickens

[esighed]

I raised Rhode Island Reds in the back yard.We're on the east side of Detroit. No one ever called about the rooster crowing at 6am. They are good pets. They ate all the grubs and mayflies and I went to the bait shop to buy them night crawlers as treats. They need sunlight for the shells of the eggs to harden. Reds are good layers but you need a good fence or the raccoons will get them. A raccoon got my rooster and bit his head off. The hen would fly up to the roof of the house and follow me around when I was gardening. I really loved those birds.

I

[fryar]

Uhm.

Hens [[aka "lady chickens") lay eggs with or without a rooster. If there isn't a rooster around, however, the egg won't be fertilized and nothing will hatch from it no matter how long you sit on it.

[[I really hope that this was a fake question. Really, I do.)

I'll volunteer: Wow. That's so crazy, it must be true.

[Mind field]

I think it is ABSURD for someone to be concerned about raising chickens in the city, regardless if it is illegal. Detroit has much more pressing concerns than damned, docile chickens, get your priorities straight!!!! The only reason it might be illegal anyway is due to ignorance. Raising your own food is a noble thing to do. Best of luck!

[grumpyoldlady]

While it is nice to be able to collect your own organic eggs, it really isn't very cost effective. A hen generally lays one egg every 29 hours or so, and if you get adult layers, they will probably shut down for an adjustment period. A town here in Minnesota allows chickens in town, but neighbors within a certain distance must approve it. Also, no roosters allowed, and a limit of 10 hens. If you would like some interestingly colored eggs, look for Auracana hens. You will get blue, green or teal colored eggs. Buff rocks, barred rocks, leghorns all are good layers. Don't forget to provide a source for calcium and also grit to help them process their food. Don't use eggshells for calcium source..it will lead to them eating their own eggs. Not enough calcium and they will lay very thin shelled eggs. A good laying mash feed is important. Good luck!

[DetroitPlanner]

The only reason it might be illegal anyway is due to ignorance.

And lazy owners who do not care for the chickens and allow them to become rat-magnets!

[Crystal]

Lots of good advice in this thread.

I raised and kept laying hens for about 15 years.

It is true that a rooster is not needed for a hen to lay eggs. Even a small rooster can be aggressive and will want to mount the hens. An aggressive rooster will attack pets and humans. A rooster will crow day and night, not only at daybreak as the urban myth suggests.

It is also true that it costs much more to raise your own hens for eggs than it does to buy eggs at a grocery store. A hen will lay about one egg per day but will lay fewer when the days are shorter. Many hens will slow down laying after they are 2-3 years old.

It is important to secure the coop from predators. Unless the coop or yard is constructed on a cement surface, be sure to extend the fencing at least 18" underground around the entire perimeter.

We found that Purina Layena was excellent feed for our hens.

[RO_Resident]

I am aware of a few places that have chickens in the city--there are a couple places west of Motor City Casino.

Ann Arbor passed an ordinance last year allowing chickens in the city. So, it has been in the news.