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REQUIREMENTS FOR KEEPING CHICKENS
<br />The Permit for keeping chickens and other domestic fowl is contingent on your meeting responsibilities
<br />to your neighbors and the birds. Our department so often sees animals in inappropriate settings. Before
<br />going further, please read the enclosed CHICKEN CARE SHEET. Consider the commitment needed with
<br />regard to the lifespan, cost, time, space , location, and other consequences of caring for chickens. Next,
<br />consider the kind of impact they may have on your neighborhood. You must provide sufficient control so
<br />that their presence will not disturb neighbors with property damage, activity, noise, odor or trespass.
<br />You must keep your property clean and maintained in a manner that prevents insect and rodent
<br />infestations. Finally, consider the birds themselves. Are you willing to assume a long term commitment
<br />to them? They must be provided with food, water shelter and veterinary care. They also need kindness
<br />and personal attention.
<br />COOP: The house, closed structure or enclosed room which provides shelter from cold, heat,
<br />wind, rain, snow and predators for protected roosting, nesting, feeding and watering space.
<br />size: 4 sq. feet interior floor space minimum per bird (an area 2 ft. x 2 ft. per bird).
<br />access to electricity
<br />floor: wood- 1 ft. off the ground, insulated / sealed or concrete
<br />bedding: clean, absorbent, nontoxic, biodegradable and replaceable material
<br />walls: varnished, treated or painted draft free double walls 1 1/2 inch insulation
<br />roof: will not collect / hold heat, min. 1-1/2 inch insulation, insulating tar paper, inclined, vents
<br />doors: 1 human -size, 1 bird door 0-2 ft. high, stable ramp, secure latch
<br />windows: 1 square foot of window per 10 square foot of floor space
<br />roosts: 1 1/2 diameter or greater, 18" from wall, 2 -3 feet off the floor.
<br />climate control: heater, fan, ventilation to maintain temperature 32' min.- 85' max. F
<br />light: full spectrum, windows and/or skylights, incandescent light or other to follow normal seasonal
<br />light cycles.
<br />feeders/ waterers: non corrosive, clean, size and number sufficient, accessible for all birds
<br />nestboxes-1 per 3 hens, bedding
<br />PEN: The fenced area surrounding the coop that provides secure access to exercise, sunlight,
<br />earth and vegetation and is freely available to the birds when they are unsupervised. It is constructed to
<br />prevent the bird's escape and prevents entry by intruders/predators.
<br />size: 10 sq. ft of floor space minimum per bird (an area 3 ft. x 3.3 ft per bird)
<br />substrate: well drained area; clean, nontoxic, biodegradable and replaceable matter
<br />metal fencing and gate / predator control: sufficient to keep birds in/predators out
<br />cover: sufficient to keep birds in/predators out
<br />windbreak, shade, dustbath, enrichment furnishings (ie. branches, stumps or platforms bushes, boxes)
<br />RANGE/ EXERCISE YARD: The larger fenced area like a backyard that provides ample space for
<br />safe exercise, forage, sunlight, earth and vegetation that is regularly available to the birds when
<br />supervised.
<br />size: 174 sq. ft per bird (an area about 10 ft. x 17 ft per bird)
<br />If no access to a larger Range/ Exercise Yard, pen must provide 16 sq. ft. of floor space minimum per bird
<br />(an area 4 ft. x 4 ft per bird)
<br />fencing: 6 ft privacy fencing
<br />FOOD / WATER: Fresh food and water daily, calcium supplement, grit, stored in rodent proof
<br />containers, uneaten / spilled removed daily.
<br />SOCIAL: separate areas provided for incompatible birds.
<br />VET CARE: designated veterinary clinic, isolation area
<br />SANITATION- manure/wet bedding removed daily; clean / disinfect coop and furnishings
<br />annually. Soiled litter double bagged for solid waste or composted in an area inaccessible to chickens for
<br />at least a year.
<br />chickenrunrescue.org Page 10 9/14/15
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