Chickens are loud and disruptive to
nearby neighbors.
False: Most of the time, hens only make soft clucks generally not audible over 12 feet or so. Much of the time, hens are perfectly silent. Oh, they do squawk for a few prideful moments while laying, but that’s about it. Roosters are noisier, but it’s not necessary to have a rooster to have hens that lay eggs. Some towns have laws specifically prohibiting roosters because of the noise. Compared to a barking dog next door, chickens are a welcome relief as far as noise is concerned.
False: Most of the time, hens only make soft clucks generally not audible over 12 feet or so. Much of the time, hens are perfectly silent. Oh, they do squawk for a few prideful moments while laying, but that’s about it. Roosters are noisier, but it’s not necessary to have a rooster to have hens that lay eggs. Some towns have laws specifically prohibiting roosters because of the noise. Compared to a barking dog next door, chickens are a welcome relief as far as noise is concerned.
Chickens and their manure smell bad
False: A clean coop is an odor-free coop. One medium dog produces the same amount of daily waste as 6-10 chickens, but unlike dog poo, chicken manure can be composted and used as fertilizer for yards and gardens. But a neighbor’s back yard full of poo from their dog? That’s a whole different (but perfectly legal!) sort of olfactory experience, especially on a hot day.
False: A clean coop is an odor-free coop. One medium dog produces the same amount of daily waste as 6-10 chickens, but unlike dog poo, chicken manure can be composted and used as fertilizer for yards and gardens. But a neighbor’s back yard full of poo from their dog? That’s a whole different (but perfectly legal!) sort of olfactory experience, especially on a hot day.
Having chickens in your yard will
attract pests like racoons and rats.
Not exactly false, but not completely true either: Chicken feed is most likely to attract these kinds of pests (and this can be remedied by using containers with tight fitting lids). Truth is, chickens do not attract these pests any more than wild turkeys, wild geese, wild ducks, hawks and eagles, and other wild birds. Chickens enclosed in a secure coop and run actually dissuade predators who very quickly realize they cannot get to their desired meal.
Not exactly false, but not completely true either: Chicken feed is most likely to attract these kinds of pests (and this can be remedied by using containers with tight fitting lids). Truth is, chickens do not attract these pests any more than wild turkeys, wild geese, wild ducks, hawks and eagles, and other wild birds. Chickens enclosed in a secure coop and run actually dissuade predators who very quickly realize they cannot get to their desired meal.
Chickens tear up lawns.
False: The easiest and most effective way to debunk this myth is to visit the back yard of a city resident who has a chicken coop. Do they have a lawn of grass around their run? Of course they do. 'Nuff said.
False: The easiest and most effective way to debunk this myth is to visit the back yard of a city resident who has a chicken coop. Do they have a lawn of grass around their run? Of course they do. 'Nuff said.
What about the spreading of diseases or
disease transmission to humans?
Small flocks have very low risk of disease transmission to humans. Do just a little homework and you will learn that it is large-scale commercial farm conditions that breed disease. Experts agree backyard chickens present no more of a health risk than other animals that may be kept as pets. In fact, the risk of disease being passed from birds to humans is less than the risk of infection from cats or dogs. The 2006 Grain Report states: “When it comes to bird flu, diverse small-scale poultry is the solution, not the problem.
Small flocks have very low risk of disease transmission to humans. Do just a little homework and you will learn that it is large-scale commercial farm conditions that breed disease. Experts agree backyard chickens present no more of a health risk than other animals that may be kept as pets. In fact, the risk of disease being passed from birds to humans is less than the risk of infection from cats or dogs. The 2006 Grain Report states: “When it comes to bird flu, diverse small-scale poultry is the solution, not the problem.
OMG! Hystoplasmosis!
Hystoplasmosis, though it can be a serious disease, is not caused by backyard chickens. It is a soil-borne pathogen that tends to multiply in damp, shady areas that have been left undisturbed over time. The fungus thrives in high-nitrogen soil, like that which can develop in bat caves, old attics or chimneys where pigeons have roosted, abandoned chicken houses, or wooded areas where wild birds (like starlings) have been roosting over a period of several years. The fungus does not grow in a backyard chicken coop where the chickens are being tended by their owner. Worried about getting hystoplasmosis? Stay out of bat caves and chimneys.
Hystoplasmosis, though it can be a serious disease, is not caused by backyard chickens. It is a soil-borne pathogen that tends to multiply in damp, shady areas that have been left undisturbed over time. The fungus thrives in high-nitrogen soil, like that which can develop in bat caves, old attics or chimneys where pigeons have roosted, abandoned chicken houses, or wooded areas where wild birds (like starlings) have been roosting over a period of several years. The fungus does not grow in a backyard chicken coop where the chickens are being tended by their owner. Worried about getting hystoplasmosis? Stay out of bat caves and chimneys.
A chicken coop next door will adversely
affect my property values.
Simply put, probably not. Property values in Maple Grove and Edina (and Roseville!) are as high as they have ever been, and these cities have very liberal policies about backyard chickens.
Simply put, probably not. Property values in Maple Grove and Edina (and Roseville!) are as high as they have ever been, and these cities have very liberal policies about backyard chickens.
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