In June of 2008, Ann Arbor City Council passed Ordinance No. 08-19 (Chapter 107 Animals) allowing city residents to have up to 4 hens (no roosters) in a coop, no closer than 40′ from the nearest neighbors living quarters. Included in the ordinance was a mandatory “neighbor waiver” requiring all property connecting neighbors to sign-off and give their approval for the permit and no person shall slaughter any chickens.

As an outcome A2CityChickens.com was created by pro-poultry people to help share the benefits of raising chickens in an urban setting. By bringing to light the misconceptions people might have about raising poultry in an urban setting we hope to educate the urban population on the benefits of raising one’s own food.

So why have chickens?

The answer is very simple, because you want to take control of your food source and locally-grown food requires less valuable natural resources to get to your table. If you have a garden chickens improve your gardens health by suppressing pests and weeds, and building soil fertility, their manure is extremely rich in nitrogen which is needed in all plant life. It makes an excellent addition to the compost pile, which in turn helps produce better vegetables.Chickens provide neighborhood children the opportunity to learn where their food comes from. Chickens provide hours of entertainment for the whole family and don’t require all the maintenance that dogs and cats do.

 

According to an article in the Mother Earth News, most of the eggs currently sold in supermarkets are nutritionally inferior to eggs produced by hens raised on pasture. Testing has found that, compared to official U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrient data for commercial eggs, eggs from hens raised on pasture may contain:

Our goal is simple, to make it possible for anyone with a little yard space to enjoy the satisfaction of raising their own hens, enjoying fresh, organic eggs.

 

Thanks for stopping by and check back for more about chickens!