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
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