6 Things To Know About Raising Backyard Chickens
Opening your backyard to a flock of chickens is a fun, easy, and relatively inexpensive way to join a growing “eat local” movement. Now, it’s easier than ever for Arizonans.
Deciding to keep chickens has long meant the headache of having to sort through your town’s zoning laws, but since the passage of a new law in May 2024, local municipalities are prohibited from placing certain restrictions on backyard chickens. Now, every Arizonan who lives in a single-family, detached house is guaranteed to be able to keep (at least) 6 chickens in their backyard.
Municipalities may choose to place additional restrictions, such as on keeping roosters, enclosure size or that the enclosure must be 20 feet from neighboring property. Existing enclosures are considered grandfathered in to any restrictions that a city may pass.
In Phoenix, city code allows homeowners to have up to 20 hens per half acre—with a couple caveats:
Roosters aren’t allowed for the simple fact that they’re vocal, and their undeniable calls may be a nuisance for those living nearby. The City’s other stipulation requires that any hen enclosures and coops be at least 80 feet from the main residence.
If you can meet those requirements, there are a few other details to know about raising hens before you build out your flock. Most notably? Research indicates farm fresh eggs are healthier than store-bought eggs, from less cholesterol and saturated fat to higher concentrations of vitamins and beneficial fatty acids. They also just taste better.
Six Tips & Useful Info for Raising Chickens
Chickens molt. Every year, usually in the fall or when seasons change, expect your backyard flock to lose and regrow feathers for several weeks. Some estimates put the molting season at about eight weeks in duration, although it can last longer. During that time, egg production will considerably slow down or stop entirely. Turns out, chickens can either grow feathers or lay eggs.
There are so many to choose from. Learning all of the potential breeds of hens that could live in your backyard is almost like learning a new language. There are so many! Perhaps there is a certain look you like best, from the lacy look of the Wyandotte to the classic leghorn—the possibilities are almost endless.
Hens help with food waste. If you aren’t already composting the stalks and cores of vegetables, apple cores, fruit that is about to turn, old bread, and other viable scraps, hens can help with that! Hens are omnivores, so they appreciate meats and veggies. Offering certain leftovers as treats mixes up their diet and keeps food waste out of the landfill.
Some hens are friendlier than others. It’s important to understand the type of relationship you’d like to have with your backyard flock to best manage your expectations, and those of your family members (especially the smallest ones). If you want to cuddle and visit with your flock on a regular basis, you’ll need to source breeds that like that kind of closeness — such as silkies. But, if you’re purely in it for egg production and want your flock to simply work for you, options are a bit more plentiful. The best part, of course, is when you don’t choose a cuddly breed but they warm up to your affections.
You’ll find eggs in every color. Backyard chickens will produce eggs that come in a rainbow of colors. From pink, white, cream, brown, blue, green, and speckled — a variety makes for a beautiful, Instagram-worthy photo for sure. Want green or blue eggs? Source an olive or easter egger. They’re easy to find and the color of their eggs never gets old.
Chickens are actually easy to raise. Once you have the proper enclosure setup and have established your flock-tending legs, you’ll find that backyard chickens are actually an easy addition to your home. They’re pretty self sufficient and graze on feed throughout the day. Since chickens can’t see at night, they even put themselves to bed—snuggling into their coops around dusk. And, if you have any questions about the chicken business, from laying tips, how to care to what kind of feed to purchase, turn to social media and a good old Google search. Before you know it, you’ll have connected to the world of other chicken owners who love to help out other chicken owners.
The Phoenix: Lets Eat Local! campaign is a partnership between City of Phoenix Office of Environmental Programs and Local First Arizona that celebrates the connection between Phoenix residents and the makers, growers, and advocates building stronger food systems in our local food communities. It is an invitation for residents to learn about our local food communities, celebrate our diverse food pathways, and help our local food businesses become more resilient and robust for ourselves and for future generations. To learn more about the campaign, visit http://phxeatlocal.com/.