Oakland County 4-H Club to Display Chicken Coop Prior to Public Hearing

Residents in Ferndale may be able to raise chickens in the coming weeks. A proposal to revise the current ordinance, which states a chicken coop needs to be at least 150 feet away from any structure on a property — basically ruling out every home in Ferndale — would have the distance reduced to 10 feet.

Additionally, the would allow a resident to raise no more than three hens and would prohibit roosters.

A public hearing is set for Sept. 14 at , at 300 E. Nine Mile Road, at 7 p.m. During which time the public will hear the changes to the ordinance.

However, prior to the meeting, kids from the Oakland County 4-H Poultry Club, starting at 6 p.m., will be at City Hall to answer questions about raising chickens and will display a chicken coop structure resembling what a legal structure would look like for Ferndale residents.

"The 4-H Club for Oakland County agree to come down with a chicken coop this week to give us a reasonable example of what a well done chicken coop looks like," Community and Economical Development Director Derek Delacourt said.

Delacourt said that the 4-H members will also have several different types of eggs and a few chickens.

"Anyone interested in chickens can take this opportunity to get questions answered," he said.

Though having chickens in the city has its supporters, it also has its detractors. Concerns have been raised about the odor, about vermin being attracted to the food and what exactly a chicken coop might look like.

Delacourt said concerns of vermin and odor are regulated under current ordinance when dealing with animals.

"The raising and keeping of any animal requires residents to follow city ordinances," Delacourt said at a July 27 meeting where the chicken ordinance revisions were being discussed. "When people don't keep up any animals there are negative impacts, regardless of what kind of animal it is."

Nothing is approved yet, however. After the public hearing the ordinance will then go in front of City Council for a final vote of approval.