Backyard chickens are becoming more popular with East Bay residents as both the culture and climate here are conducive to raising chickens. This attraction to backyard chickens by denizens of the East Bay has been described in recent articles in The New York Times (A Chicken on Every Plot, a Coop in Every Backyard, by Catherine Price, 9/19/07) and East Bay Express (On Ruling Your Roost, by Emma Pollin, 6/20/07), to mention a few.
After growing vegetables and fruit, the next big step to raising your own food is to bring in the laying chickens and enjoy the eggs. The most common culinary reason to raise chickens is that the eggs are more delicious and nutritious. Pastured eggs have brighter, richer yolks, with higher levels of nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, beta-carotene, and vitamin E than their commercial counterparts.
However, there are many side-benefits to having your own chickens. Long recognized as the gateway animal for urban farming, raising chickens helps people connect with the source of their food. For some, observing the social structure that the chickens play out is worth the price of managing the flock.
Raising Chickens 101
We are building a movement to support urban farmers in their pursuit of raising chickens. This is the beginning of organizing a movement, here in the East Bay, to support current enthusiasts and share best practices with those folks interested in getting started. We will be offering a class on how to get started with your own chickens. Additional ideas that we are exploring include how to build your own coop, coop tours, and cooking with eggs. East Bay Chickens is designed to include people from all over the East Bay, those in more urban and less urban settings, and it’s for children, too!
As the interest in raising chickens has grown, so have the resources available for getting started and maintaining your flock. You can find information on the internet, in magazines, and in books. There are even chicken chat rooms, if you are inclined.
East Bay Chickens is interested to hear from you as we explore ways to assist others in getting set up and avenues to extend our fun with fowl. Let us know that you are out there and what is of interest to you.
Send us an email at info@eastbaychickens.com
Resources
Obtaining your chicks
Alamo Hay and Grain Company
3196 Danville Boulevard, Danville
925-837-4994
Livermore Feed and Farm Supply
(chicks available March through May)
3170- 4th Street, Livermore
925-447-4203
McMurray Hatchery
McMurrayHatchery.com
Mike's Feed
710 E 14th St., San Leandro
510-638-2005
Rivertown Feed and Pet Country Store
200 1st St., Petaluma
707-762-4504
Western Farm Center
21 West 7th St., Santa Rosa
707-545-0721.
Feeding your chickens
Alamo Hay and Grain (see above)
Animal Farm
1531 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley
510-526-2993
Livermore Feed (see above)
Mike's Feed (see above)
Pagano's Hardware
1100 Lincoln Ave., Alameda,
510-522-1345
Pet Club
3535 Hollis St., Emeryville
510-595-7955.
Vets for Chicks
The Chicken Doctor St. Louis Veterinary Clinic
3545 Fruitvale Ave., Oakland
510-530-1004
Montclair Veterinary Hospital
1961 Mountain Boulevard, Oakland
510-339-8600
Books and magazines
Barbara Kilarski, Keep Chickens! Tending Small Flocks in Cities, Suburbs, and Other Small Spaces (Storey, $16.95)
Gail Luttmann and Rick Luttmann, Chickens in Your Backyard: A Beginner's Guide (Rodale, $12.95)
Johannes Paul and William Windham, Keeping Pet Chickens (Barron’s Educational Series, $8.99)
Backyard Poultry Magazine, $21 for annual subscription
www.backyardpoultrymag.com
Articles
On Ruling Your Roost
East Bay Express
A Chicken on Every Plot, a Coop in Every Backyard
New York Times
Websites
www.citychickens.com
www.seattletilth.org
madcitychickens.com
chickenkeeping.com
www.motherearthnews.com
backyardchickens.com
www.wikihow.com/Keep-Chickens-in-a-City
Local Laws **
Alameda: No more than six chickens or other fowl. Coop must be 20 feet from dwellings and should be kept sanitary to deter vermin.
Berkeley: Coop must be 25 feet from dwellings and maintained so as not to become a breeding ground for flies.
Emeryville: Coop must be 20 feet from dwellings and be kept clean and sanitary.
Lafayette: Coop in backyard only; 60 feet from front property line, 10 feet from any property line, and 55 feet from neighbors.
Oakland: Coop must be 20 feet from any dwelling. No roosters.
Orinda: Coop must be 60 feet from front property line, 40 feet from any side or rear property line.
Walnut Creek: Coop must be 100 feet from front property line, 50 feet from any interior lot line, and 15 feet from any side or rear property line.
** Local Laws excerpted directly from East Bay Express, On Ruling Your Roost, by Emma Pollin, 6/20/07.
