Welcome to A2 City Chickens
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:
- 1/3 less cholesterol
- 1/4 less saturated fat
- 2/3 more vitamin A
- 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
- 3 times more vitamin E
- 7 times more beta carotene
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 please check back with us soon!
Loop de Coop 2009: The Scoop on Local Chicken Coops - is History
A2CityChickens would like to thank the The University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens and their volunteers, the Ann Arbor chicken coop owners whom opened their coops to the public, and the 100 plus rain soaked poultry fanciers for making the first annual Loop de Coop an overwhelming success. On Saturday October 3rd 2009, folks big and small weathered the elements to see firsthand a wonderful selection of unique chicken coops and their feathered occupants and to experience in person what a joy it is to have backyard chickens.
This is the first of hopefully many Loop de Coops for the Ann Arbor and surrounding area with next year’s tour to include Ypsilanti and Saline City coops.
Please check our Yahoo a2citychickens group for photos of the 2009 event.
Thanks to all,
-A2CityChickens
Thanks Hans for a great video!
Ypsilanti City Council passes ordinance allowing backyard chickens!
On Tuesday evening 7/22/2009 the Ypsilanti City Council passed an ordinance 5-0 allowing residents to keep up to four chickens in their backyards. The ordinance allows chickens at single-family or two-family homes, roosters will be allowed, and chickens must be kept in an enclosure at all times. The permit will become available on August 26, 2009. Please see the City of Ypsilanti Building Department web site for more details on the permit at http://cityofypsilanti.com/services/administration_services/building_department/Forms
Great job Ypsilanti!
In the News
