Longmont Urban Hens

Good News! Backyard Hens Legalized in Longmont!

2011-01-12T14:43:00.003-07:00

Last night the Longmont City Council voted to continue to allow residents to own up to 4 backyard hens and to lift the restriction on the number of permits allowed in the city. Hooray! The vote was 5-2 with only Mayor Baum and Gabe Santos voting against it.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this a reality!

If you don't have a permit yet, you may apply for one after Jan. 24, 2011, at the City of Longmont, Planning and Development office, located at 385 Kimbark St. The cost for the permit is $30. In addition to completing the permit application, you must also provide a plot/sketch plan of your property with setback dimension lines and coop size and location. There are restrictions with regard to the coop size and location and setbacks, so please read the new ordinance (which should be posted on Jan. 14) before applying.

Yay chickens! :)

City council voting on backyard hens TONIGHT Jan. 11

2011-01-11T17:42:00.003-07:00

I seem to have had the date wrong in my previous post. Apparently the 2nd reading of the backyard hen ordinance is tonight, Tuesday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. at the City Council Chambers,
Civic Center, 350 Kimbark St., Longmont. So sorry for the late notice.

Please attend, sign up to speak during the public invited to be heard section and say that you support backyard chickens. Thank you!!

If you can't make it, please send the city council members an email letting them know you support backyard hens in Longmont.

The current City Council includes: Mayor Bryan Baum, Gabe Santos, Brian Hansen, Katie Witt, Sean McCoy, Sarah Levison, and Alex Sammory.
Email addresses: bryan.baum@ci.longmont.co.us, gabe.santos@ci.longmont.co.us, brian.hansen@ci.longmont.co.us, Katie.witt@ci.longmont.co.us, sean.mccoy@ci.longmont.co.us, Sarah.levison@ci.longmont.co.us, alex.sammoury@ci.longmont.co.us

City council to vote again on backyard hens - your support needed!

2010-12-16T16:10:00.005-07:00

Now that we are nearing the end of 2010, the Longmont City Council is due to vote again on the backyard hen ordinance. The more pro-chicken folks we can get at the following city council meetings mentioning that they support chickens and why, the better.

The meetings that we need pro-chicken support will be held at:
7 p.m. Tuesdays, Dec. 21, 2010 and Jan. 18, 2011
at the City Council Chambers,
Civic Center, 350 Kimbark St., Longmont.

Email Your Support!
If you are interested in emailing the city council members to express your support as well, you can find their email addresses by clicking on the link to the city council, then click on each photo to get the individual email address (or copy and paste the addresses below). The more positive support they receive from Longmont residents, the better our chances that we'll be able to keep our backyard hens.

Thank you!

More chicken permits soon to be available

2009-06-10T15:48:00.009-06:00

Last night the Longmont City Council approved the amendment to the backyard chicken ordinance. According to the amendment permits will soon be available for residents who requested to be on the waiting list between the dates of March 24 and May 5. There are 22 of them.

There are an additional eight people who've called asking to be added to the waiting list since May 5, but they aren't eligible to get a permit. The eight individuals on the new waiting list will have to wait until a permit is surrendered or revoked before they will be eligible for one.

In addition, anyone who had chickens prior to Feb. 1, 2009, and can prove it will be eligible to
get a permit. They will be required to provide a written letter from a next door neighbor attesting to their chicken keeping and pictures of their coop and chickens. This group would be required to bring their chicken keeping operation up to the existing code requirements just like everyone else.

The amended ordinance will go to publishing on Friday, and the new permits should be available for purchase 10 days after that which should be June 22.

Council members voting in favor of the amendment were Karen Benker, Brian Hansen, Sean McCoy and Sarah Levison. Voting against it were Mayor Lange, Gabe Santos, and Mary Blue.

For information on obtaining a permit (what to bring and where to go), please see this post.

City Council to vote on amending chicken ordinance June 9

2009-06-08T13:56:00.003-06:00

The Longmont City Council will vote on amending the backyard chicken ordinance at the meeting on Tuesday, June 9. The vote could increase the number of permits allowed in the city (currently only 50) and allow residents who own backyard chickens but don’t have the required permit to keep their hens, as well as allow residents who are on the permit waiting list to apply for a permit.

On May 26, council voted 5-2 in favor of amending the ordinance to allow more permits. The second reading and vote are scheduled for tonight. For more information about the last city council meeting and vote re: the chickens, please read the Times-Call article Longmont chicken owners without permits have time to comply.

If you are in favor of backyard hens, please attend tomorrow night's city council meeting and sign up to speak during the Public Invited to be Heard section (at the very beginning). Thank you for your continued support.

Location of Meeting:

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
June 9, 2009 - 7 p.m.
Civic Center
350 Kimbark St.
Longmont, CO

Longmont may allow existing chickens to be grandfathered in

2009-05-15T10:15:00.003-06:00

The results of Tuesday's city council meeting were covered in the Times-Call article Chicken Amnesty.

City officials might give sanctuary to illegal chickens.

Councilwoman Karen Benker suggested at the end of the Longmont City Council meeting Tuesday night that the city change its new chicken ordinance to allow residents who have been keeping hens illegally — but who could not get their hands on one of the 50 chicken permits the city issued — to keep those hens legally if residents can prove they’ve had them for a while.

Read the complete article here.

Back to the Council Urban Hens!

2009-05-12T14:51:00.003-06:00

Tonight the City Council may be discussing the approval of additional permits for the Backyard Chicken Ordinance. If you are on the Wait List, received a permit, already have chickens, live next to chickens, etc. please come speak and support the approval of additional permits!

The 50 permits approved in March sold out fast and several folks that were instrumental in getting the ordinance passed DID NOT get permits due a variety of reasons, including having to to go out of town for a family emergency.

Please arrive BEFORE 7pm to sign up to speak. Plan to be brief, but positive. Here is a link to the current agenda (they will likely not vote on additional permits tonight, the City Manager will simply raise the issue).

May 12, 2009 Agenda

Location of Meeting:

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
May 12, 2009 - 7:00 p.m.
Civic Center
350 Kimbark Street
Longmont, CO

Longmont chickens on NBC Nightly News

2009-05-06T09:27:00.003-06:00

May 4, 2009: More suburbanites across the country are raising chickens. It goes beyond a passion for poultry, some are motivated by the taste of farm fresh eggs, others by a desire to try something new. NBC's Jack Chesnutt reports.

Chickens roost in backyards

Longmont chicken permits sold out - waiting list started

2009-03-27T16:19:00.003-06:00

On Monday, March 23, the city of Longmont issued the last of the 50 permits that allow residents to keep up to four backyard hens. At this time, no more permits are available.

They have, however, started a waiting list of sorts. If anyone who received a permits decides they'd rather not get chickens after all (or if they get them and then decide to get rid of them), they can turn their permit back into the city and the city can reissue it to a person on the waiting list. As of today, March 27, there are four people on the waiting list. So if you do find yourself with a permit and no desire to get or keep chickens after all, please turn your permit back in so that a resident who really wants them can obtain them legally. To be put on the wait list for a chicken permit, please contact Ben Ortiz at the Planning and Development Services Division, 385 Kimbark St. The phone number is 303-774-4725.

Thank you. :)

In the news again:
Longmont's chickens were in the Denver Post last week: More cities welcome chickens

Chickens in the local paper

2009-03-14T11:59:00.005-06:00

There's a nice article about Longmont hens in today's TimesCall titled Coming home to roost - Chicken supporters say newly legal birds worth the cost, effort.

Also, as of Friday morning, Ben Ortiz reported to me there were about 10 chicken permits remaining. Details on obtaining a permit can be found here.

Chicken permits selling out fast

2009-03-09T16:11:00.006-06:00

Chicken permits in Longmont went on sale this morning and as the doors of the Development Services Center opened at 8 a.m., there were about a dozen people waiting in line to get their hands on one.

According to the TimesCall, by 11 a.m. only half of the 50 permits approved by city council remained available for purchase.

City planner Ben Ortiz said, "We've issued 28 of the 50 available permits as of 4:30 this evening. I suspect the remainder will go by the end of the week."

The new ordinance that allows up to 4 hens in residential backyards is a trial run that will expire at the end of 2010, at which time the city council will determine whether or not to allow all Longmont residents the opportunity to own hens.

For more information on how to buy one of the 22 remaining permits, click over to this post with details on where to go and what to bring.

The new Longmont backyard hen ordinance and getting a permit

2009-02-27T14:35:00.011-07:00

As of Feb. 24, the City of Longmont has passed an ordinance (read details of the ordinance here) that allows a small number of city residents to keep up to 4 hens (no roosters) in a backyard chicken coop provided that the coop/yard meets certain requirements. There will be 50 permits available for issue for a cost of $30. Residents must fill out a simple form and supply some information when applying for their permit.

Obtaining a permit:
Permits will be available to the Longmont community beginning Monday, March 9, 2009, and every work day thereafter until the permits run out. Individuals that want a permit must come to the Development Services Center located at 385 Kimbark St., which is located across the street from the library. The doors to the offices front onto Kimbark and are open at 8 a.m.

Prospective chicken owners will need to fill out a simple form which includes the requirements within the ordinance. The permits are $30 (cash or check made payable to the City of Longmont). They don't accept credit cards, so please be sure to have your cash/checks in hand when you come in. The form will ask if you are using a coop that was in existence prior to February 1, 2009 and whether said coop is closer than six feet to any side or rear property line. If it is closer than six feet, the coop owner will need to get written permission from the adjacent property owner. If you fit that description, please make sure you have their letters in hand too. If the pre-existing coop is not closer than six feet, then you won't need a letter. If a pre-existing coop is closer than six feet and there is no adjacent property owner, then you don't need written permission.

For any and all coops (whether they're pre-existing or not), please provide a plot plan, sketch plan, aerial photo, e.g. Google map of the property showing dimension lines from the side/rear property lines and any structure as well as the placement of the coop. If you are going to be using a tractor, just show the larger area where the tractor will be contained in. The sketch plans/Google map don't have to be too fancy. They just want a general idea as to where you're planning on putting the coop and the coop's size.

Additional information:
While the following recommendation isn't included in the ordinance, it has been suggested (by city staff) that we work within our group to self-police as much as possible to avoid raising any red flags during the trial period.

According to city staff, Murdoch's sells sexed chicks, so please take advantage of this or other distributors that sell sexed chicks and do your best to avoid roosters as much as possible.

Also, if anyone in our group has buyer's remorse afterward or accidentally gets a rooster, we've been encouraged to work amongst ourselves to adopt out the birds or, in the worst case scenario, take them to one of the two raptor rehabilitation centers in the area (Fort Collins & Broomfield). It is important to get rid of roosters immediately once they start crowing if it turns out you get one accidentally.

Thank you for your support and congratulations to all. Keep on clucking. :)

The Longmont backyard hen ordinance passed

2009-02-24T21:40:00.001-07:00

The ordinance passed tonight! 50 permits will be available for purchase for $30 starting some time in March. More details soon.

Show your support February 24th at 7 PM!!!

2009-02-19T16:03:00.002-07:00

Hello Chicken Lovers! The Backyard Chicken Ordinance is up for its final "yay" or "nay" vote next Tuesday, February 24th at 7 PM. Please come to the meeting, sign up to speak briefly and tell the council that you wholeheartedly support backyard chickens.

With amendments, the proposed ordinance would now allow:

Up to 4 backyard chicken hens (no roosters).
No other fowl are allowed - so, no turkeys, quail, ducks, geese, guinea fowl or pigeons.
The coop and run can be up to 7 feet high. It has to be predator proof, with a solid top.
The coop and run must be 6 feet away from any other structure, and from side and rear property lines. The coop and run must be in the rear of the property.
The coop and run must allow at least 4 sq ft per chicken, and can be a maximum of 120 sq ft total.
Water must be available to the chickens at all times, and feed must be kept in a vermin-proof container.
The coop and run must be cleaned and maintained regularly, and not constitute a nuisance, safety hazard, or health problem to surrounding properties.
No slaughtering allowed.
Hen keepers must have a permit - currently, 50 permits will be allowed, at a permitting price of $30 each.
A permit may be revoked with violation of any part of the ordinance.
The trial period ends in December of 2010 (the ordinance "sunsets") if it has not been renewed prior to that time.

If anything has been left out please be sure to add it in the below comments. We hope to see you Tuesday!

First reading of the ordinance - Feb. 10

2009-02-09T21:20:00.003-07:00

The first reading of the proposed backyard hen ordinance will take place at the City Council meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, in the City Council Chambers, located in the Civic Center at 350 Kimbark St. At this meeting the council will vote to go forward with the ordinance (which would lead to the second reading and vote on Feb. 24) or to kill the ordinance.

All chicken supporters are encouraged to attend this meeting and sign up during the public invited to be heard segment to say "I support the backyard hen ordinance." Thank you for your support!

Also, Longmont and chickens are in the news again. On KUNC today was Longmont considers urban hen ordinance. Take a listen.

Upcoming backyard chicken workshops in Ft. Collins

2009-01-26T15:15:00.003-07:00

I received this information from a few chicken folks up in Fort Collins and wanted to pass it along here in case anyone in Longmont (or elsewhere in Colorado) is interested.

The Rocky Mountain Sustainable Living Association is holding Backyard Chicken workshops scheduled throughout the year.

See their website for details:
http://www.sustainablelivingassociation.org/backyard-chickens/

Here is the workshop schedule:
- Intro to Poultry - Sun. Feb 22, 12 pm to 4 pm
- Poultry Facilities - Sun. March 15, 9 am to 5 pm
- Intro to Poultry - Sat. April 11, 9 am to 1 pm
- Poultry Facilities - Sun. May 10, 9 am to 5 pm
- Advanced Poultry - Thurs. June 11, 6 pm to 9 pm

In addition, Northern Colorado Feeders' Supply will be holding a COW (Chicken Owners' Workshop) on Friday, March 20th. Details will be posted on the Fort Collins chicken blog when they become available (http://fortcollins-urbanhens.blogspot.com).

Vote YES for backyard chickens

2009-01-25T22:48:00.005-07:00

There's currently a poll (about whether or not the city council should allow backyard chickens) on the left-hand side of the Times-Call site, but you have to scroll down quite a bit to see it.

http://www.timescall.com/index.asp

The question is:
Should the Longmont City Council allow residents to apply and pay for
a limited number of backyard-chicken permits?

Please vote YES!

Thanks for voting. :)

Quick update on City Council meeting

2009-01-21T10:54:00.003-07:00

Just a quick update for now. Overall, last night's study session went well. The City Council will likely vote on the backyard hen ordinance in February. You can read about the meeting in today's TimesCall article - Backyard chickens likely to involve cost.

More about the Jan. 20th City Council Study Session later.

Mark your calendar for Jan. 20

2009-01-17T21:56:00.005-07:00

The proposed backyard hen ordinance will be discussed in detail at the city council study session at 7 p.m. this Tuesday, Jan. 20, in the City Council Chambers, located in the Civic Center at 350 Kimbark St., Longmont. Ben Ortiz, the city planner who has been in charge of all of the research regarding the proposed ordinance, will be in attendance. All chicken supporters are very much encouraged to attend, as well as sign up to speak in support of the ordinance. Your statement when you speak can be as short and sweet as, "I support the ordinance," or, directed to the city council, "Please support this ordinance."

Thank you all for your continued support! Hope to see you at the study session. :)

Longmont's lack of chickens on NPR

2009-01-11T13:46:00.005-07:00

Longmont made national news again, this time on National Public Radio's (NPR's) All Things Considered this weekend in City Folk Flock to Raise Small Livestock at Home by Megan Verlee. Verlee discusses the urban hen trend in Denver and across the country.

This was Longmont's mention:

Some municipalities have bucked the agrarian trend. Just north of Denver, the planning board for the city of Longmont, Colo., recently gave the thumbs-down to a chicken ordinance. According to Jon Van Bentham, the board chairman, concerns ranged from unsightly chicken-coop construction to noise and smell, to slightly more dire topics.

"Avian flu came up," Van Bentham says. "Again, that's maybe kind of a nightmare scenario, but that's one of the places where folks are concerned that it comes from."

You can listen to the 4 1/2 minute broadcast or read the entire article here - City Folk Flock to Raise Small Livestock at Home.

Sign the chicken petition outside of Vitamin Cottage Jan. 10 & 11

2009-01-09T13:38:00.009-07:00

Longmont Urban Hen Coalition members will be standing in front of Vitamin Cottage (1739 Main St., Longmont) collecting signatures on the backyard hen petition this Saturday, Jan. 10 (from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Sunday, Jan. 11 (from 3 to 5 p.m.).

The petition will be presented to City Council at the Jan. 20th study session.

Please stop by, sign the petition and show your support for urban chickens. :)

If you can't sign the petition in person, there is an online version of the petition available as well. Please sign only if you are a resident of Longmont and have not signed the paper petition, and include your street address in the comments.

Update on Jan. 6 City Council Open Forum

2009-01-07T10:31:00.006-07:00

Dr. Mikki Hand attended the city council open forum last night, representing the Longmont Urban Hen Coalition. Dr. Hand presented her case and asked city council to vote in favor of the ordinance to allow backyard hens in Longmont.

Her comments were well-received by the city council.

Brian Hansen said, "I want to thank you very much for all of your input on this matter. I think there's been a lot of fear of the backyard hens and I think as much information as we can get out there as we can is very helpful. And so I really do appreciate how much you've come forward and told us a lot of the details people haven't thought about."

Gabe Santos brought up the idea of having a community chicken coop at Sandstone Ranch, etc. He also pointed out that this ordinance is not a "slam dunk" and that this will take time to please people on both sides of the issue.

Sarah Levison asked for the copy of the USA Today article (where Longmont is mentioned) and for a copy of The Natural History of the Chicken that was on PBS the other night (it can be viewed on YouTube in six parts). She also said, "One of the things that's really surprised most of us is primarily the issue seems to be highlighting the fact that we are woefully inefficient and insufficient in our code enforcement issues totally in this city. ... It's pretty much common knowledge we don't have enough code enforcement officers in the city. To me that's one of the fundamental issues that's been brought up because of the backyard hen issue so i think that's a discussion of priorties in the community that we need to have as part of this ordinance as well."

Mary Blue, the only council member who attended our Eggs on the Table meeting a few weeks ago, and had been on the fence or even opposed to the ordinance, said about the meeting, "It was a very interesting program. ... I'm glad I went. I went to learn. I thought the presentations were very thoughtful. They were high quality, intellectual comments. Particularly the child from Lyons that could name all of these chickens by name that their family owns. It was most interesting." She also added, "I'm slowly being swayed."

What's next?
The proposed backyard hen ordinance will be discussed in more detail at the city council study session at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, in the City Council Chambers, located in the Civic Center at 350 Kimbark St., Longmont. Ben Ortiz, the city planner who has been in charge of all of the research regarding the proposed ordinance, will be in attendance. All chicken supporters are very much encouraged to attend this meeting.

Longmont is in the news again - this time USA Today

2009-01-04T22:03:00.003-07:00

From the USA Today article:

Longmont, Colo., city planner Ben Ortiz says elected officials in his city of about 85,000 near Fort Collins are considering whether to let residents raise chickens. Ortiz says many residents have cited financial sustainability as a major reason. "There may be some pent-up demand for this kind of thing," he says.

Read the rest here: Chickens given roosts in urban backyards

Natural History of the Chicken on PBS Dec. 31

2008-12-30T22:18:00.002-07:00

Natural History of the Chicken

Natural History of the Chicken will be on Rocky Mountain PBS
Wednesday, December 31
9 p.m. (Analog)

Most people best know the chicken from their dinner plates - whether as thigh, wing or drumstick. Consumers barely pause a moment to consider the bird's many virtues. Filmmaker Mark Lewis ("Cane Toads: An Unnatural History" and "Rat") expands the frontiers of popular awareness and delightfully reveals that this small, common and seemingly simple animal is as complex and grand as any of Earth's creatures.

Eggs on the Table - pictures from the presentation and an update

2008-12-21T20:23:00.016-07:00

On Thursday, Dec. 20, a small group of chicken supporters held a public informational meeting called "Eggs on the Table: Longmont and Urban Hens" at the Longmont Public Library. We had a decent turnout, including one member of city council (Mary Blue) in attendance. All city council members were invited.

In addition to the presentation and some question and answer, we had the backyard chicken petition available for signatures. If you are a Longmont resident who has been unable to sign the paper petition and are in favor of allowing up to 6 backyard hens (no roosters) in Longmont, you can sign the online petition. Please be sure to include your address in the comments.

Here are a few pictures from the presentation:

Alison talks about sustainability.

An explanation of why backyard hens are sustainable.

An explanation of why Longmont needs an ordinance allowing backyard hens.
Chris discusses different breeds of chickens and chicken coops.

Dr. Mikki Hand talks about the myths and concerns versus the facts regarding backyard hens.

Alison shows the difference in egg yolks (size and color) between:
top picture - a cage-free organic egg from Organic Valley (purchased from the grocery store) on the left and an almost urban egg from Ollin Farm (a local organic farm) on the right and
bottom picture: Ollin Farm eggs on the left and Organic Valley eggs on the right.

Some of the chicken pictures the kids in attendance of the presentation colored.

Lastly, Lilla, age 7, (of Lyons) talks about her chickens while her father looks on.

UPDATE: At this time, city council is set to discuss more about the ordinance at the Jan. 20th study session, which the public may attend. Also, there will be an open forum at city council on Jan. 6th during which residents may sign up to speak on any topic for a 5-minute period. You just need to sign up to speak.
If you'd like to read more about the presentation, please see the Times-Call article about it: Chicken fans praise backyard birds as useful, fun.
If you'd like to get involved in the chicken crusade, please join the Yahoo Group and/or consider sending an email in support of the ordinance to city council.
Thank you.

Longmont backyard chickens in the news

2008-12-19T12:05:00.005-07:00

An article about our public educational meeting at the library last night was on the front page of the Times-Call today: Chicken fans praise backyard birds as useful, fun.

If you are interested in signing the petition, please watch the blog for updates re: when/where we will have it available for signatures in the weeks ahead and/or leave a comment with your email address and one of us will get in touch with you. Thank you.

Eggs on the Table: presentation tonight at Longmont Public Library

2008-12-18T14:56:00.002-07:00

Just a reminder that our library public education meeting is still on for tonight.

Eggs on the Table: Longmont and Urban Hens, a public educational meeting, will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. TODAY, Thursday, Dec. 18 at the Longmont Public Library. Accompanied by experts in their fields, we'll clear up some misconceptions and educate about the many benefits to owning backyard hens. Whether you are pro-chicken or still on the fence, we hope you will join us. Children are welcome to attend with their parents.

We will have a local physician, an organic farmer and a few urban hen owners from neighboring communities speak. We will also answer questions and view some images and video clips demonstrating the various homes and faces behind urban hens. The meeting is for anyone who wishes to learn more about urban hens and to better understand how they can be good neighbors.

Backyard Hens Make Better Yolks

2008-12-15T08:51:00.010-07:00

As a kid we had chickens and we had fresh eggs. As far as I can remember, I always liked eating eggs, whether they be scrambled, poached, soft boiled, hard boiled, they were (and are) a tasty food. My grandmother also raised chickens from which she made the best scrambled eggs in the world. They were always a bright yellow and tasted oh so creamy.

Over the years I became accustomed to grocery store eggs. They seemed perfectly good, although my omelets and scrambled dishes never tasted quite as good as I remembered. For many years I attributed this to the superior cooking skills of my mom and my grandmother. And, then I came across local farm fresh eggs just a few miles from our home.

The eggs on the left have been marked with a "V" and are Cage Free Large Brown Eggs from Organic Valley. Prior to coming across Ollin Farms our family either bought eggs from Organic Valley or from Nest Fresh. The eggs on the right are from Ollin Farms and marked with an "O". As egg companies go, Nest Fresh is pretty close to ideal. They are Certified Humane and fed a vegetarian and organic diet; however, from this comparison it is clear their eggs continue to miss something in the diet of real farm eggs (and Backyard Eggs).

The first time I cracked open an egg from Ollin Farms, I was in awe of its rich golden (in fact deep orange) hue. I scrambled a few up for the best omelet in ages. I was hooked and so was my toddler son! Not only are Ollin's eggs very tasty, but I have also visited their hens, which have a large outside enclosure. I know that for a fact that their chickens are happy with space to run, forage, eat a grub or two and some grass, in addition to their carefully selected chicken feed.

Over the last few months I’ve mentioned the difference in color to many people. Unfortunately, everyone except my grandmother, who has almost 90 years of hen raising experience, looks at me in disbelief when I mention the rich yellow orange color of Ollin's eggs, so I decided to document the difference.

Pictured above you see on the left a Cage Free Organic Egg provided by Organic Valley. On the right you see an almost urban egg farm egg from Ollin. You’ll note that the yolk from the Ollin egg is not only deeper in color, it is also much larger.

In this last photo the Ollin eggs are on the right and the Organic Valley on the left. You’ll again note the difference in color and the increased size of the yolks in the Ollin Eggs. The Organic Valley eggs are much more uniform in size and they just don’t measure up to old fashioned free roaming eggs raised on a small scale!

With access to locally raised eggs, such as those from Ollin, you might wonder why I or anyone else might want to raise his or her own backyard hens. For one, raising several hens can be pleasurable work as the hens, like many pets, often become part of the family! Furthermore, here in Longmont we have very alkaline and clay soil. Folks who like to keep hens also often like to garden. Personally, I would be thrilled to have access to a regular supply of free Chick a Poo fertilizer to compost and add to my soil!

Lastly, although there are several local purveyors of farm fresh eggs, supply cannot keep up with demand. Over the summer months I have access to at least 3 different options for egg buying, but only on certain days and they all sell out within a few hours of opening. In the winter months Ollin is the only place I know of to get eggs, but Mark himself has said he could probably run a business on eggs alone and still not keep up with demand!

In conclusion, there are those of us who appreciate nutritious and good tasting food and the welfare of animals, while also desiring to increase our self-sufficiency and shorten the distance of our food from farm to table. With this in mind, we ask you to attend Eggs on the Table this Thursday at the Longmont Public Library. And (or) seek us out to sign the petition showing your support to the Longmont City Council.

Sign the chicken petition this Saturday

2008-12-12T15:58:00.003-07:00

We'll be at the Winter Farmers' Market & Holiday Gift Show, in front of Barn A at the Boulder County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Dec. 13, collecting signatures for our backyard hen petition.

Don't be chicken. ;) Stop by and show your support for urban hens.

Upcoming public educational meeting - Dec. 18

2008-12-10T16:29:00.005-07:00

Eggs on the Table: Longmont and Urban Hens, a public educational meeting, will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18 at the Longmont Public Library. Accompanied by experts in their fields, we'll clear up some misconceptions and educate about the many benefits to owning backyard hens. Whether you are pro-chicken or still on the fence, we hope you will join us. Children are welcome to attend with their parents.

Some of the speakers we are hoping to have in attendance* include:
- Dr. Mikki Hand, family physician
- Mark, farmer and chicken owner at Ollin Farms
- a representative from 4-H
- a child who owns backyard hens
- an expert on sustainable living
- a representative from Animal Control

*Subject to change

We will also have our petition to Longmont City Council available for signatures.

Hope you can join us for a fun evening!

Backyard hens in the LA Times

2008-12-05T17:26:00.004-07:00

Excerpt from a Los Angeles Times article, Chickens as pets: city living with a farm feel:

Any urban dweller interested in living green has good reason to keep chickens. They reduce garbage by eating your leftovers mixed in with their feed, and they will pick off those irritating caterpillars destroying the vegetable garden. Their poop is an excellent composting aid, and they will even trim your grass and weed for you, if you let them. Added benefits: farm-fresh eggs right from the backyard and the amusement of impressing friends with an interesting new pet -- and for many it is a pet, not a future entree.

"Bottom line, chickens are a lot of fun," said Dave Belanger, publisher of Backyard Poultry magazine, who has seen subscriptions more than triple since he launched in 2006.

Read the full article here.

Photo credit: Christina House / Los Angeles Times

Top 10 Reasons to be Pro-Hen

2008-12-02T14:31:00.007-07:00

The Top 10 Reasons I'm Pro-Hen!!

#10 - Hens are darned cute and oh soooo soft!

#9 - Hens eat table scraps that cannot be put in your compost.

#8 - Hens provide happy and healthy non-toxic weed control (with built in fertilizer).

#7 - Composted chicken waste is perfect for your soil (and garden).

#6 - Watching a hen chase down a mosquito is just too funny!

#5 - Humanely-raised and cruelty-free eggs from happy chickens are hip, green, and sustainable!

#4 - Hens are snuggly love-bugs when given a chance!

#3 - Remember those eggs? Urban hen eggs are fresher, cheaper, better tasting, and more nutritious than ones from the store!

#2 - Hens teach kids that food doesn't come from a box.

#1 - As an urban hen owner you will be a part of the solution, paving the way for a new beginning!

P.S. Thank you to the Fort Collins hen group for your support and inspiration.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Backyard Hens

2008-11-24T13:20:00.013-07:00

Why raise chickens in the city?

Great tasting, nutritious eggs; Research shows that chickens allowed to roam freely and eat grass lay eggs that are higher in Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E and at the same time lower in cholesterol than eggs from the supermarket, making home-produced eggs healthier. Their yolks tend be a richer yellow and described as creamy in taste! There is nothing better than a fresh egg!
Organic, chemical-free pest control: Chickens love to eat bugs that bite you, such as mosquitoes and ticks, and the bugs that harm your plants like slugs.
Free fertilizer, no more wasted table scraps, and the opportunity to learn about our food cycle.
One step closer to sustainable living and self-sufficiency. Chickens give us eggs which just don't have food miles, and there are many other reasons why they help the environment.
Fun and friendly pets with personality. Believe it or not, chickens have great personalities. There are always the shy ones, and those that run up to you to be picked up and cuddled. They do quirky things that will light up your day, everyday.
Educational Opportunities: Raising chickens (or any pet) is an excellent lesson in responsibility for children (and their parents). Learning how to properly feed and care for chickens, while also learning about good nutrition and the history of our food is a valuable lesson for all.

Are chickens noisy and smelly?
Hens are quiet. Roosters are the noisy ones that crow - sometimes all day. You don't need a rooster to get eggs and roosters will not be allowed per the Longmont backyard chicken ordinance, so there's no need to worry about them.

For small flocks, proper bedding material, routine cleaning, and access to outdoors keep smells to a minimum. Of course, a dirty coop will smell, but generally, that smell is limited to inside the coop. It is also important to keep the floor of your coop relatively dry for the health of your chickens and to reduce the possibility of smelliness (your coop could be mildly pungent after a heavy rain).

How do I keep their coop clean and my neighbors happy?
Once every week or two (depending on how many chickens you have in how little space), clean out the coop, wipe down the perches, and scrub down their feeders. If they are laying, thoroughly clean their nest boxes, especially if an egg cracked at one point. Keeping their environment clean will also keep your neighbors from complaining.

What do I do with chicken manure?

Regularly clean out to prevent problems.
Compost it and use in garden and yard.
Chicken manure is acidic, which is great for our alkaline clay soil, and highly nutritious!

What else can I do to keep a good relationship with my neighbors?
Tell your neighbors what you are doing. They are less likely to get upset over a wandering chicken in your yard (or theirs) every once in a while if they know where it came from. Better yet, turn them into allies and give them free eggs! You will likely end up with more eggs than you will know what to do with.

What if my neighbor gets chickens?
Enjoy visiting the chickens and talking with your neighbor. Discuss concerns, questions or problems right away, and your neighbor will address them. Your neighbor is working hard to make sure the chickens fit into the neighborhood.

How do I ensure the health of my chickens and my family?
The main concerns with disease and chickens are the salmonella bacteria strains and the possibility of them contracting avian flu. If you buy your chicks from a certified salmonella and mycoplasma free hatchery, and protect their food from rodents, you should not run in to many problems w/salmonella. As far as protecting them from avian flu, you need to keep them away from migratory birds, and use chlorinated city water for their water. To date, we don't have avian flu in the US.

To prevent the possibility of disease you can take several small precautions. Any new chicks should be vaccinated against Marek's disease as day old chicks before they leave the hatchery (this is a chicken disease, not a human one). You should also wash your hands after handling your chickens or anything related to the chickens. If you visit your neighbors chickens it is prudent to wash your hands and change clothes, before handling your own chickens again.

What if I am still concerned about Avian Influenza (AI) or Bird Flu?
Common-sense principles and good bio-security measures are very important to help prevent the spread of this disease, as well as other poultry diseases, and should always be followed. It's important to note that one cannot be infected with AI by eating cooked poultry products or eggs. For more information, visit the web sites of the WHO and the CDC. Additionally, it is wise to keep your chickens from interacting with migratory birds.

What do chickens eat?
Purchase food for your chickens to ensure proper nutritional balance in their diet. Your chickens will need feed and likely a calcium sources, such as oyster shell. Feed supply stores are a good source as well as the Internet (there are several in the Longmont area, such as Burdocks & Hygiene Feed & Supply). Put the feed in a covered feeder and replace it regularly, as it does go stale. Never let your chickens eat damp feed! Chickens also love table scraps; however, do not feed them raw meat or spoiled veggies (as raw could increase risks of salmonella, as well as campylobacter and e. coli).

They are effective weed eaters and wonderful for insect control. Fresh and cracked corn is a favorite as well as tomatoes, apples and anything baked. Also, chocolate and avocados can be toxic to birds and your chickens should not eat these foods. A good rule of thumb: if it's healthy for you, it's usually healthy for your chickens. Use common sense and keep pesticides, antifreeze and other chemicals out of your birds' reach. Clean up uneaten food before it spoils and stinks up their home.

How will urban hens effect Animal Control?
We acknowledge that the Longmont Animal Control is understaffed. We value the important work carried out by our local Animal Control officers understand the need for their support. Rather than forbidding chickens, we feel that it would instead be prudent to increase funding, staffing and support for Longmont Animal Control. If Longmont were to consider a small permit fee for Chickens (similar to Ann Arbor and some other cities), chickens might actually be a source of revenue for Longmont Animal Control.

What happens to abandoned or old hens?
Although many laying hens reduce their egg out-put over time, they will continue to lay. Many people develop fond attachments to their hens and will keep them through old age. However if you wished to process (and eat) your chicken there are several meat processing facilities in the area that take custom orders, such as Arapahoe Meats. If you would like to replace your hen with a more productive bird, it is likely that other local chicken lovers (inside or outside city limits) might adopt your old pet. Never abondon a domestic chicken as they are not bred to survive on their own! We will be working with the Longmont Humane Society to post further recommendations.

Will keeping backyard hens decrease neighborhood property values?
Based on the fact that backyard hens are allowed in Boulder, Denver, Berkley, Calif., San Jose, Calif., Ann Arbor, MI, New York City, San Francisco, and many more cities, there doesn't seem to be a problem with decreased property values.

What if I have additional concerns or more detailed questions?
Visit the Colorado State Cooperative Extension Poultry Page for additional information, statistics, links and contact information.

Some of the above information came from: WikiHow, Backyard Chickens, Ann Arbor's A2 chicken site, CSU Poultry Page, and Green Me's cousin (a vet).

Short Documentary on the Missoula Chicken Controversy

2008-11-23T20:35:00.005-07:00

Here's a great look at the pros of hen ownership as well as the concerns.

Contact Your City Council Members

2008-11-21T23:16:00.004-07:00

If you are in favor of the Longmont city ordinance to allow backyard hens, please let your City Council members know (and why you support the ordinance). You can find their contact information by clicking on their names on the City of Longmont City Council Members page or their email addresses are listed individually below.

Sean McCoy: seanmccoylcc@q.com
Gabe Santos: gabe@gabesantos.com
Sarah Levison: levison4longmont@yahoo.com
Karen Benker: karenbenkerlg@earthlink.net
Mary Blue: marykblue@msn.com
Brian Hansen: council_hansen@hotmail.com
Mayor Roger Lange: roger_lange@qwest.net

It is so important that the city council members hear from everyone who is in support of this ordinance. Please make sure your voice is heard. Send them an email.

Why Backyard Chickens?

2008-11-20T22:25:00.000-07:00

Benefits of Urban Chickens
There are a variety of reasons to keep chickens in urban environments, and its not a new fad. People have been keeping chickens in cities for centuries, and here are some of the benefits when you add chickens into your urban lifestyle:

Local source of protein
If you live in an urban environment you can grow your own fresh fruits and vegetables in your backyard. When it comes to supplying your own source of protein however, it's impossible to get your dog to lay breakfast each morning or fit a cow in your backyard. That's why chickens are so wonderful! They are small, easy to care for, and won't take up your entire yard. Chickens provide protein rich eggs, and if you choose to you can also raise them for meat (if slaughtering is legal where you live).

Better Quality
Fresh foods simply taste better! Also, when you raise your own eggs and meat, you know what the animal ate, its living conditions, and how it was treated. No need to worry about food safety, antibiotics, or hormones.

Source of fertilizer
Chicken poop is high in nitrogen and great for your compost pile. Supply your backyard garden with compost made from chicken poop and watch your plants flourish!

Natural pest control
Got cockroaches, tomato horn worms, aphids, grubs, or any other pest you don't want in your yard or garden? Chickens are great at conrolling these pests naturally- no need to put nasty chemicals in your yard. And yes- chickens will even eat mice!

It's fun!
Chickens can provide a breath of fresh air in our busy urban lifestyles (as long as you don't step in their poop!). Just like cats and dogs, chickens have personalities and can be great companions. If you can't keep indoor pets, chickens are a wonderful alternative with the added benefit of providing food. Also, your neighbors and friends will come flocking over to your house to take part in all the excitement.

You can be a part of the local food movement!
The local food movement is taking off, and by keeping chickens you can take pride in being a producer and not just a consumer. Help feed your own existence!

Source: Benefits of Urban Chickens