A chicken in every plot – a rooster, not!

The Sonoma City Council on Wednesday joined a national trend and smiled on the idea of backyard chickens for fun and food. The main question – other than one citizen’s recitation on the accompanying evil of flies – was: how many chickens in what size plot?
Chicken farmer Arnold Riebli, who said afterwards he has a million chickens, cautioned against high-density flocks. “I don’t know anything about rabbits,” he said, “but I know a little bit about chickens. My setbacks are 50 feet. My concern is runoff. If you’re going to have chickens in a chicken yard, you’re going to have runoff. It’s going to go down hill someplace. In January, February and March [when it rains], it’s going to run. Either it’s going to go in your neighbor’s yard or in flood control channels. I’m just bringing this to your attention,” he said. If runoff was one issue of large-volume flocks, other issues could arise with even smaller flocks.
“[Sonoma Planning Administrator David] Goodison mentioned rodents,” said Riebli. “I can tell you, those rodents are going to find that chicken feed. The other thing I venture is, varmints. Possums and skunks. They love chickens and they love to go into henhouses at night and they’ll kill them and they’ll make a hell of a mess. That’s the nature of the beast.”
The audience squirmed as the picture he painted got worse. “You’re going to have cats that are going to be going after the chickens. Dogs are natural predators. You’re putting the bait out there. I just caution you. I don’t mind having a few chickens. But when I see the numbers in the hundreds, I see the amount of waste that you’re going to generate on a daily, weekly, monthly basis. I think you’ve got to give that some thought.”
Backyard chicken owner, Doreen Proctor put the numbers issue in perspective. “My six hens are no problem,” she said. “I’ve learned how to keep them safe from predators. They’re clean. I use thick layers of straw that absorb their droppings. As for rats, I keep the chicken feed in my garage and no raccoon or possom can get in my garage. At night, I take up all [the chicken’s] dishes and dump out the water dishes to keep raccoons and the other animals out. I see no problem with a few chickens. They’re great pets,” she said, adding, “There’s a lot to chickens.”
There’s more to them than some would like, according to Joe Aaron, of Third Street East, who had the room chuckling as he enunciated in a theatrical drawl his epic battle with a particular, chicken-loving fly. “I killed a few of the filthy pests and sent them to the county vector,” he said. “He has a B.S. and an M.S. and he identified [the flies] and he certified they come from chickens: chicken manure…” he said, hitting the first syllable of the phrase like an ax, and repeating it for emphasis, “chicken manure … Chicken manure.” One of his neighbors had chickens, he said, and at one point, in his frustration, he’d sought him out for discussion. “I invited my neighbor to have a glass of pinot,” he drawled, “and a slice of cheese, and sit and look at the fliiiiiies.” That neighbor subsequently moved his chicken house. But another neighbor declined the invitation to meet Aaron’s flies or his demands that his chickens be moved. That neighbor, Bob Cannard, who originally proposed the backyard chicken project, spoke up last.
“The ordinance that’s presented has very few flaws that I see as a beginning ordinance,” he said. “I would suggest reducing the total number of the flock. I don’t have any maximum number. I have two acres. I suppose 30,40,50 probably would be within reason. I have a 20,000 sq. ft. lot, but [a flock of] 16 hens is enough for me. I think a bigger family may need 20, but no more than 20.”
The mayor brought the matter to the council for discussion and, with a nod to “the fly thing,” and an agreement to “grandfather in” those roosters who are already permitted, but not to grant permits for any more, the council agreed to permit a maximum flock size of 16 hens for a lot of less than 10,000 sq. ft. and an additional 16 for an additional 10,000 sq. ft. For rabbits, it should be a maximum of eight for every 10,000 sq. ft. of lot size. Councilmember Steve Barbose moved to have a 50 chicken cap, and the motion carried.
As for the cost of the permit, Mayor Joanne Sanders said, “In my mind, the spirit of this is to enable people to raise their own food. Chickens don’t beg, they don’t sit and they don’t roll over. The pleasure of the chicken is it gives food for your table.” The council decided upon a nominal fee of $10. Violators of the ordinance would be fined. The ordinance will be up for a second reading at the next City Council meeting.