The council received an informational report on the fledgling idea in June and answers to additional questions last September before tabling the issue. Council members again hatched the idea this past June, when several residents spoke in favor of raising backyard hens.
They noted that surrounding communities have had success with allowing the practice. On Aug. Owners can let hens roam the yard during daylight hours under adult supervision, and coops or enclosures must:. Residents need to apply for a permit and pay a fee determined by the council. The application must include:.
When the council first considered the issue in April , Animal Services director Jamey Cantrell said he was concerned about the birds ending up at the animal shelter. His department has seen a steady increase in the number of chickens captured or surrendered, from eight in fiscal year to 14 last year. Since the current fiscal year began Oct. Sachse and Fairview have generous limits or no limits at all on the number of chickens a resident can raise. Coppell forbids all chickens.
They also need an elevated roost on which to perch at night; this is where they prefer to sleep. Hens enjoy loose substrate such as dirt, sand, or peat for dustbathing, and they should also have free access to grass and other vegetation to engage in natural pecking, scratching, and foraging behaviors.
Often-used areas may become denuded, and it is important to provide plenty of space, giving them as much room as possible to express natural behavior outdoors. Hen houses, coops, and runs must be kept very clean at all times, for the health of the chickens and the food safety of the eggs.
Chickens will require veterinary care While it may be tempting to think of a backyard flock as a source of inexpensive eggs, hens, like cats and dogs, require periodic veterinary care.
These expenses should be carefully considered before the decision is made to keep backyard chickens. Not all avian veterinarians are experienced with chickens, so be sure to locate a trusted poultry vet in your area ahead of time.
Vacation help is a must Since chickens require daily care, a designated caretaker must be arranged for vacations and other periods away from the house. Someone must be present to feed and water the hens and to put them inside their secure shelter every evening.
Chicken nutrition is important It is a common misperception that chickens can be fed on corn kernels or kitchen scraps alone. Chickens need a balanced diet, like one of the commercially available feeds that have been carefully formulated by nutritionists specifically for adult hens. The protein requirements of chickens change with the birds' age, so it's important to feed an age-appropriate diet. Join the Observer community and help support independent local journalism in Dallas.
Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. Support Us Dallas' independent source of local news and culture. First and foremost, make sure the city you live in allows chickens. I support. Support the independent voice of Dallas and help keep the future of Dallas Observer free.
Support Us. Keep Dallas Observer Free. Since we started the Dallas Observer , it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Dallas, and we'd like to keep it that way.
With local media under siege, it's more important than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" program, allowing us to keep offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food and culture with no paywalls. Lauren Drewes Daniels is the Dallas Observer 's food editor. She started writing about local restaurants, chefs, beer and kouign-amanns in Addison allows three birds per property and Garland four.
Teri Webster , Special Contributor. She has worked as a staff writer and freelancer for several area news outlets and is a regular contributor to Fort Worth Weekly.
Email story tips to writerteriw gmail. Jamie Hancock. She was previously the assistant politics editor; the editor of Briefing, a home-delivered edition of The News; and a sports copy editor. Receive the latest political news delivered every Tuesday and Thursday from reporters in Austin, Dallas and Washington.
By signing up you agree to our privacy policy. Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas. More from Homepage. They faced plague. Then floods.
0コメント