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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (March 30, 2016)
10A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL March 30, 2016 C HICKS Continued from page 1A companionship; many of us love having animals around.” Chickens also act as pest-con- trol agents, Rinck said, ridding the area they inhabit of snails, slugs, mosquitoes and other un- desirables, though they’re also fond of anything green that may be growing in the garden, mean- ing that a fence should be put around anything chickens aren’t supposed to eat. At the Old Mill, owner Debbie Lavios pointed out that national numbers of those who own their own chickens are up 32 percent in recent years. It’s a trend she and partner Chuck McCleod have seen fi rsthand over their 17 years of ownership. Lavios said the trend comes about due to the increased attention of many to where their food comes from, and how. “In the last decade, there’s been an enormous push, and I think it goes hand-in-hand with the other food awareness is- sues,” she said. Even within the community of those who raise chickens, Lavios said, a greater awareness has blossomed. “Ten years ago, people didn’t ask us about the genetics of our chicks,” she said. “They just wanted a bird. Now, their inter- ests are a lot more specialized.” Lavios said she’s supportive of those who want to try raising chickens for the fi rst time while photo by Jon Stinnett Caring for young chicks is extremely time-consuming during the fi rst eight weeks of their lives. adding that they’re “not for ev- erybody.” “But if you try and they’re not your thing, it’s pretty easy around here to fi nd another place for them to be,” she said. “We encourage people to put in a little advance education to get the best experience they can. If you can’t have that kind of con- versation where you’re buying your chicks, you’re shopping in the wrong place.” For local do-it-yourself types, Rinck and Lavios said it’s relatively easy get started in chicken-rearing for about $50, though designer coops with all the amenities can also be found. At Coast Fork Feed, each chick costs $4 and comes with a 30 percent chance that the chick will be a rooster, though Rinck said she works with those who do happen to fi nd a rooster among their hens. At the Old Mill, chicks run $3 and are 90 percent guaranteed to be fe- male. Chickens require food, wa- ter and shelter, and Lavios said their care is incredibly time con- suming for the fi rst eight weeks, when special food and equip- ment are required. In fact, she said there is a growing sub-in- dustry of growers who take care of chicks early on, then return them to their owners later. Common issues that are of- ten encountered include worms, which Lavios said can be tack- led these days “using alterna- tives to chemistry.” Avian fl u is also a concern, particularly in backyard or other settings with a large population of wild birds overhead. Chickens require a building in which to roost, Rinck said, as they are viewed as delicious fare by local skunk, possum and raccoon popula- tions. She recommended pur- chasing at least two chickens to start out, as they are quite social animals. Rinck said Coast Fork has recently concentrated on heirloom varieties of chickens, as they tend to be hardier with regard to cold weather. Late last week, Danielle Ste- vens brought her family to the Old Mill to inquire about pur- chasing chicks for the fi rst time. Stevens said she moved here from Texas. “We wanted to teach our kids to be more self-suffi cient,” she said. “We want to be dependent on nobody but ourselves. Get- ting chickens is one of the fi rst steps for us in getting our feet wet.” Lavios reiterated that having chickens is work, but work that comes with great benefi ts. “Families come to us excited to start a new adventure,” she said. “And it’s a real thrill for kids when they go out and fi nd that fi rst tiny egg.” The rules of the roost: How many chickens are too many? O n Feb. 24, 2014, the Cot- tage Grove City Council voted to adopt an ordinance that allows more livestock of certain varieties to be kept within the Cottage Grove City Limits. The City cited a burgeoning move- ment among locals interested in producing their own food as a reason for the change. According to Ordinance No. 3040, on development sites less than a half-acre in size, up to one domestic fowl (chickens, ducks, quail, pigeons, pheasants and doves; geese and turkeys, roosters and peacocks are pro- hobited) per 1000 square feet is allowed with a maximum of 15 total birds. Up to six rabbits total are allowed, as are up to three miniature goats. Up to three bee hives are al- lowed, " provided that they are located at least fi ve feet from all property lines, the opening of the hive is pointed toward the center of the property and a water source is provided on site within 15 feet of each hive." On sites larger than half an acre in the City Limits, the rules are the same, thoughup to one of large stock such as cows, miniature cows, horses, minia- ture horses, sheep, goats, emus, alpacas and llamas are allowed per half-acre. The rule also states that "All urban livestock animals are re- quired to have a structure de- signed and constructed to pro- vide shelter from the weather, with a roof and a minimum of two walls. These structures shall comply with all development standards (setback, height, lot coverage, building and specialty permits) for accessory struc- tures in the applicable land use districts. Cottage Grove Sentinel +