backyard chickens

Submitted by nleachdev t3_1142b39 in springfieldMO

Curious if anyone within city limits raises backyard chickens. From what I saw (been a bit), no roosters, and 4 hens are allowed.

They also need to be taken care of (ensuring they aren't so loud, or smell so bad to affect neighbors, etc, and ofc don't get out)

Anyone thats done this in city limits and not shot themselves in the foot doing so?

Not in this for $ (will cost more than I save, I reckon), so not concerned about spending extra $ compared to hitting the store every week

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MacAttack2015 t1_j8tsj9z wrote

Yes, per the Zoning Ordinance, you can keep six hens or fewer - no roosters - on a residential lot. If you live in an area with a HOA, check your covenants first (mine bans them outright gif). Be sure whatever enclosure you keep them in is located to the side of or behind your house, not in front. If you have a coop for them, keep it a few feet off of your property lines to avoid angry neighbors (and because there are setbacks required, usually three feet for something accessory like that).

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nleachdev OP t1_j8tunza wrote

Hey, thanks for the reply.

Also, good advice on having the enclosure on the side/back, and keeping the coop a few feet off property lines. I'll absolutely take those to heart.

Will also take the HOA to heart, we are hoping to find something without one, but I just realized how some places skirt around that (like Fremont hills, which i guess is its own city technically).

Best case we get something outside limits on a decent plot, and I won't have to be as concerned about this stuff, but I'm thinking internet speeds will be what prevents that (i need good internet for work).

Thanks again, have a good one!

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thrwy4286 t1_j8twiwu wrote

Keep in mind Springfield allows them, but strangely enough Greene county does not unless you have a certain amount of acreage.

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nleachdev OP t1_j8twsph wrote

Damn, even more good advice. Did not know that (and agree, kinda strange).

TY!

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therx7kid t1_j8wv0qd wrote

Do you happen to have reference for this? I can't seem to find the part about acreage other than being 50ft from a dwelling?

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thrwy4286 t1_j8xc60r wrote

Here you go: https://www.greenecountymo.gov/files/file.php?id=1571

On pages 25, 26, and 27 it has the formula for how many animals you can have on your land. Basically on page 27 it says if you have less than 2.9 acres, you can't have anything that's defined as livestock (what specific animals are considered livestock are listed on page 26 and includes chickens).

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therx7kid t1_j91bd3m wrote

Thank you for the references, I realize now why I couldn't find it . I was looking at the Springfield ordinances and not Greene County, lol. It's so ass backwards that the city is OK with it, but not the county.

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thrwy4286 t1_j8x44n0 wrote

I'll see if I can find it. The only reason I know about it is because a coworker that lives in Greene county was cited and had to get rid of his chickens. This was in October, so I don't believe it has changed.

I live in Christian county myself, but I'll see what I can find and ask my coworker if he still has the citation because it referred to specific laws.

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mangogetter t1_j8u7uun wrote

A fair number of people in Rountree have them. And no HOA, thank God.

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Frostyphotog131 t1_j8uef66 wrote

I've got a few of them. Have a large coop and run in the middle of my back yard, which has a privacy fence. I let them out into the yard to graze most days. I'm currently getting about 5 eggs a day.

They are a decent amount of work. If you travel or go out of town you obviously have to have a way to shut their coop at night and make sure they get food and water. During extreme cold, like what we had right before Christmas, I had to bring them into the house or they probably would have froze to death.

They are fun but they also shit everywhere, and are fairly destructive so make sure your enclosure is pretty robust.

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SweetSewerRat t1_j8uxh33 wrote

Most people don't realize how much chickens scratch and dig until they have them.

In the summer, they'll dig themselves a hole around half the size of the chicken and hang out there to cool off. Your mulch will not be in your flowerbeds anymore, it'll be everywhere. They help with bugs though which is nice.

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[deleted] t1_j8txd6a wrote

[deleted]

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the_honeyman t1_j8vrgty wrote

I had a foster rooster for a minute, I was surprised at the reaction my neighbors all had, they seemed to like it as an alarm clock. Still got rid of it just in case.

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my_monkeys_fly t1_j8vzyvs wrote

Enclosed coop, don't forget a dust bath (recipes can be found online for proper dust), and you might even make a chicken tractor from garden pest control. But they are such fun little pets and full of peraonality

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GuardianOfHyrule t1_j8v4bq6 wrote

Make sure you enclose your coop. We have a lot of hawks and owls that live chicken.

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the_honeyman t1_j8vrk0t wrote

Stray dogs, possums, raccoons, and cats are bigger threats within city limits in my experience.

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KoiCyclist t1_j8wsz9r wrote

Definitely take your lifestyle into account before you get chickens - we had them for a couple of years (before they got eaten) and it was kind of a drag having to let them out EVERY MORNING at dawn and making sure someone was home to put them up EVERY NIGHT at dusk. THEY DO not operate on your schedule. The one day we forgot to lock up the coop…well…feathers flew.

Also think about how much you’ll want to dispatch these chickens if they turn out to be roosters, or get sick. And the shit shoveling…and their bad attitudes…wow, I do not miss owning chickens.

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SeaboltFamilyFarm t1_j8xk1r6 wrote

Look into deep bedding for smell, also keep them fresh water and food for at least 12 hours a day, if you want to go further look into putting rabbits over the top of them and Bam you got high protein meat, eggs, and an absolute great fertilizer for a garden!

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O_Ymir t1_j8wxr48 wrote

Chickens aren't very noisy if kept happy. As long as you spoil them and give them enough space outside as well as roosting space inside, and keep their area cleaned up and fed regularly, they don't tend to make a whole lot of noise.

They do work in schedules. If you're an hour late to feed (assuming you don't free feed), they'll let everyone know.

Just my .02.

Source: prior chicken/duck papa

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CustardAny8408 t1_j8x138h wrote

Yep my MIL has had her chickens for years in her backyard in Springfield. No roosters just hens

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Eat__Moneyz t1_j8yfhuh wrote

All fun and games until the Snakes come back.

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