Community Corner

Oakland County 4-H Club Shows Its Chickens

Poultry group sets up outside city hall and endorses proposal to allow hens in city yards.

Zac Fortin has 21 chickens. In Lake Orion, where he lives, you can have that many. In Ferndale, you might soon be able to own three hens.

The Ferndale Planning Commission has recommended the city council approve its revisions to an ordinance that make it easier to keep the fowl.

Fortin, 16, is a member of the Oakland County 4-H Poultry Club. He and about 14 other kids, built a chicken coop in front of .

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The kids and their parents brought several chickens and crowded under and overhang of during a rain drizzle on Wednesday.

"It started out as a hobby," Fortin said. "But now we have 21 chickens."

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Fortin said raising chickens is not only healthy but also environmentally conscious.

"We have fresh eggs. Store bought eggs sit around for about six weeks. They are shipped from long distances and stored," he said. "Our eggs are fresh."

Fortin's father, Tim, said raising chickens in urban and suburban environments is growing. "People are scared of not knowing where their food is coming from, knowing where your meat is coming from," he said. "There is a natural and organic food movement and this is part of it."

Yet, Tim Fortin said he still can't believe he owns 21 chickens.

"If you would have said to me 10 years ago I'd be sitting around watching chickens peck, I wouldn't have believed it," he said. "But here I am."

Making it easier to raise chickens

On Wednesday night, the Ferndale Planning Commission approved a recommendation that the city council adopt revisions to an ordinance that would make it easier for most Ferndale residents to keep chickens.

The previous ordinance stated that a resident couldn't have a coop within 150 feet of any structure. Because of the size of the average city lot, the ordinance made it impossible for most of Ferndale to raise chickens. The proposed ordinance states that the coop should be 10 feet away from a structure and in the backyard. It also limits the number of hens to three and prohibits roosters. There would be a yearly permit process that involves a code inspection of the chicken coop.

Health, peace and fresh food

"I like holding them and the fresh eggs," said Aneesa Berryer, 11, of Lake Orion. Aneesa owns 21 chickens and they all have names.

"Raising chickens creates peace within me and they also provide nutrition for our family. It's more healthy than anything commercial," Tina Berryer, Aneesa's mom, said.

The proposed ordinance in Ferndale limits residents to three hens. A hen lays four to seven eggs per week. Berryer said that an egg-laying hen produces for about two to three years then the output of the bird is greatly reduced.

As for "meat" birds — birds raised for eating, they grow faster than then egg-laying birds. Egg-laying birds tend to be a little scrawny and grow slower said Janis Hagyard, a parent of a 4-H Poultry Club kid.

"Chickens are fun and sweet," said Renee Fleming, 9, of Springfield Township. She and her father Gary own 29 chickens and 4 turkeys.

Raising chickens is an education

For Gary Fleming, raising chickens is an education for his daughter. He said it teachers her about the origin of food, about responsibility and business. "She sells eggs to her teachers, my friends and co-workers. She's learning about business," he said.

There are concerns in Ferndale about how chickens will sound, smell and if they will attract vermin, such as rats.

"You've got to keep them clean like any animal," Gary Fleming said.

"If you don't clean up after your dog, you'll attract rats. If you don't take care of your garbage properly, you'll attract rats," Tim Fortin said. "Chickens are the same way. If you don't clean up after them properly, they will smell, like anything else."

To learn more about the Oakland County 4-H Poultry Club or to join, go here.


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