Do you live in Portland? Have you thought about getting chickens? Do you have some extra space in your backyard and like to eat eggs? If you’re like me, then all of these apply and this blog post is for YOU! Let’s learn about chickens together, shall we?
Hi. My name is Erin, and I grew up on the Southern Oregon Coast. My family had land and over time, we had what some might refer to as a farm. At one point, we had dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, chickens, and horses! I think my parents were fond of the “we’ll-get-them-animals-so-they’ll-learn-how-to-do-chores” way of teaching responsibility. And I think I kind of miss that way of life. Or maybe I just miss the country…
Now living in Portland, I think fondly about the time when we had chickens. My tiny quarter-acre lot East of 82nd is a far cry from a farm but it sure is fun to cultivate. So should I get chickens again? I reached out to a few friends and clients to find out what they thought about owning chickens in the city.
PROs
- Fertilizer! Chicken poop is a great composting tool AND fertilizer for your garden
- They’re fun to have around, everyone I talked to sang their chickens praises in terms of personality & character
- Delicious eggs – better than anything you can get at the store
- Hallmark of sustainable living: fertilizer, eggs, and they’ll eat your scraps!
- Great icebreaker for meeting neighbors: do you want some eggs?
- Children love chickens!!
- Baby chicks, ‘nough said
CONs
- Daily egg collecting – it needs to happen
- Coop needs to be cleaned
- Beware of pests & predators: raccoons, rats, coyotes, skunks, hawks, eagles, etc.
- Require pet sitting if you’re out of town longer than a weekend
- Chickens can be messy: poop and their dinosaur-like talons will really tear sh*t up if you let them out
BASIC MAINTENANCE
- They need a secure coop to prevent pest/predator access, preferably with a perch and nesting box
- Fresh water
- Fed daily
- Coop cleaning
- Regular egg collection or risk them pecking at and potentially destroying their own eggs
So this all sounds doable IF I choose to get them. I was actually most worried about the noises they might make (I like my quiet time) and whether or not neighbors would complain. But no one mentioned neighbor complaints and most said their noises were cute or funny. One client actually got quite animated when telling me about the squawking that occurs after they’ve laid an egg, “they like to brag about it! Chickens can be quite boastful!” She said noises are most likely to occur when the chickens are unhappy, sending out a warning cry, or after they’ve laid an egg. Ok, I think I can deal with that.
Last but not least, since I live in a city and a city has rules, what does Portland want residents to know about having chickens?
- You can have up to 4 on any sized lot,
- You can have up to 6 on 10k sqft lot or greater
- No permits required as long as you abide by their rules
- Secure enclosure means a minimum of 5’ high
Some local resources to help you get started:
“Raising Chickens in Portland” with Portland Pet Store
“Chickens, Birds & Bees” with LivingScape
If you or someone you know is looking for a property in Portland that already has a coop OR you want to share your OWN experience with chickens, please get in touch. And stay tuned to see if I make the leap! *Cluck cluck*
{Photo from MLS# 23504472, Listed with Sharon Bloudek at Living Room Realty}
