Raising Backyard Chickens in Redding, CA
A Starter Guide for Urban Farmers
Raising backyard chickens in Redding, California, offers residents the opportunity to embrace a self-sufficient lifestyle, providing a source of fresh eggs and potentially, a new hobby that connects them with their food source. With a temperate climate and a community that values sustainability, Redding is an ideal place for residents to start their own backyard flock. However, potential poultry keepers must adhere to specific city guidelines to ensure their activities are in line with local ordinances that prioritize both the well-being of the chickens and the community.
Before setting up a coop, Redding residents must familiarize themselves with the city's zoning, proximity, and sanitation restrictions. Chickens must be kept at least 40 feet from any dwelling house, 15 feet from side or back property lines, and not within 50 feet of any front property line. Understanding and complying with these regulations is crucial for anyone looking to raise backyard chickens in Redding. This ensures a harmonious balance between urban living and the benefits of raising poultry at home.
Understanding Local Chicken Laws in Redding, CA
Redding, California, has specific local laws regarding the raising of backyard chickens. Residents should be aware of zoning regulations, coop restrictions, and permitting requirements to ensure compliance.
Redding Zoning and Chicken Ordinance
In Redding, local ordinances accommodate the keeping of chickens in residential areas, falling within certain zoning rules. Chickens are allowed within the city limits, but residents must check with Redding's zoning regulations because these can vary based on the area of residence.
Number of Chickens and Coop Restrictions
While Redding's chicken ordinance does not specify the maximum number of chickens one can keep, it imposes restrictions on where coops can be located on a property. Coops should be at least 40 feet from a dwelling and 15 feet from side or back property lines. Proper sanitation and maintenance of the coop are paramount to avoid nuisances and ensure the health of the chickens.
Permitting and Setback Requirements
Setback requirements are essential parts of Redding's local laws concerning backyard chickens. Residential chicken owners should adhere to these, keeping coops within 50 feet of any front property line. Moreover, while a permit may not always be necessary, checking with the city council or local authorities can provide clarity on whether one's setup requires permitting due to size, scale, or other factors.
Choosing the Right Chicken Coop
When selecting a chicken coop for your backyard flock in Redding, CA, it is crucial to consider design, size, predator security, and cleanliness to provide adequate shelter and space for your chickens.
Coop Design and Size
The design of the chicken coop should cater to the specific number of chickens with enough space for nesting boxes and areas for roosting. A good rule is to allocate about 2-3 square feet inside the coop and 8-10 square feet in the run per bird. Nesting boxes should be accessible for both the chickens and for egg collection. Additionally, ensure the coop height accommodates human entry for easier cleaning and maintenance.
Security Against Predators
Predators such as raccoons, foxes, and hawks are common threats to backyard flocks. Security features should include:
Sturdy Locks: Ensure all doors and access points have robust locking mechanisms.
Wire Mesh: Use hardware cloth instead of chicken wire on windows and runs to prevent predators from reaching in.
Solid Floor: A reinforced floor can deter digging predators.
Roof Coverage: Protect your flock from aerial predators by covering the run with a solid or wire mesh roof.
Maintaining Cleanliness and Adequate Space
Cleanliness is vital to prevent disease and parasites. The coop should be designed for easy access to facilitate regular cleaning. Here are some key considerations:
Ventilation: Good airflow is crucial to remove dampness and odors.
Bedding: Choose appropriate bedding, such as straw or wood shavings, and change it regularly to maintain a clean environment.
Space: To prevent overcrowding, provide adequate space for each chicken, as cramped conditions can cause stress and aggression.
By focusing on these components, you can create a safe and healthy environment that will support your chickens' well-being and productivity.
Chicken Care Essentials
Raising chickens in Redding, CA requires attention to their diet, hydration, and health to ensure a thriving backyard flock. Proper care can prevent disease and promote the well-being of your chickens, whether they are hens, roosters, or young chicks.
Feeding Your Chickens
For optimal health, it is essential to provide chickens with a balanced diet. Starting from hatchlings to fully mature birds, their dietary needs change. Chicks should be given a high-protein starter feed with 18-20% protein content for the first 8 weeks, then transitioned to a starter/grower feed with 16-18% protein until 14 weeks old. Adult chickens require a standard layer feed that usually contains about 16% protein.
Chickens 0-8 weeks: Starter feed with 18-20% protein
Chickens 8-14 weeks: Starter/grower feed with 16-18% protein
Chickens 15+ weeks: Layer feed with 16% protein
Watering and Chicken Feeders
Clean, fresh water is crucial and should always be available to chickens. A chicken drinks approximately 1 pint of water a day, depending on its size and the weather conditions. Waterers should be cleaned regularly to prevent the spread of disease. Chicken feeders should be designed to minimize waste and keep the feed clean. They need to be refilled daily and positioned at the height of the birds' backs to ensure ease of access and reduce contamination.
Water consumption: 1 pint/day per chicken
Feeder height: Level with the chicken’s back
Daily Health Checks
Observing your chickens daily is vital for early detection of any health issues. Signs of disease to watch for include changes in eating or drinking habits, lethargy, abnormal droppings, or respiratory distress. Chicken keepers should also look out for external parasites, such as mites and lice. Regular health checks reduce the risk of diseases spreading through the flock.
Detecting health issues:
Eating/Drinking habits: Changes can signal a problem.
Behavior: Lethargy or respiratory issues may be present.
Feathers and Skin: Check for parasites like mites and lice.
Understanding and Managing Chicken Behavior
Raising chickens requires an understanding of their social dynamics and behaviors to maintain a harmonious backyard flock. Careful management is key to addressing challenges that arise as chickens interact with one another.
Social Structure: Pecking Order
The social hierarchy of chickens, known as the pecking order, is established early in life and maintains order within the flock. Roosters typically dominate the top positions, followed by hens according to age, strength, and personality. Observing interactions can help owners recognize the structure, which is essential for minimizing conflict. Chicks introduced at a young age may establish their own hierarchy separately before being integrated into the wider group.
Top of the Pecking Order: Typically roosters or older hens
Middle Ranks: Active layings hens and pullets
Bottom Ranks: Generally younger birds and those new to the flock
Handling Aggressive Behaviors
Aggressive behaviors might manifest in pecking, chasing, or other forms of bullying. This is often a result of the pecking order but can escalate beyond normal interactions. Addressing aggressive behaviors may involve:
Separating the aggressive bird temporarily
Ensuring adequate space and resources to reduce competition
Providing enrichment to distract and occupy the birds
Owners should never use violence against aggressive chickens, as it can exacerbate the problem.
Introducing New Chickens to the Flock
Introducing new chickens, particularly pullets or birds from another flock, requires careful planning. Quarantine new arrivals for health reasons first, then introduce them gradually, observing their interactions over time. Some tactics include:
Having a see-but-don’t-touch period through a barrier
Introducing the new birds during the evening when the flock is less active
Monitoring for aggressive behaviors and being ready to intervene if necessary
This methodical approach can ease the stress of integration and help maintain the flock's well-being.
Breeding and Raising Chickens
When embarking on the journey of breeding and raising chickens in Redding, CA, it’s essential to select suitable breeds, understand the incubation process, and provide proper care from hatch to adulthood to ensure a healthy flock that can supply fresh eggs.
Selecting Chicken Breeds
In Redding, enthusiasts should choose chicken breeds that thrive in the local climate. They may consider breeds like the Plymouth Rock or Rhode Island Red for their hardiness and reliable egg production. Selecting breeds also involves understanding "chicken math," the humorous term chicken keepers use to describe how the number of chickens one plans to have often multiplies.
Incubating and Hatching Eggs
To breed chickens successfully, one requires an incubator set precisely between 99-102°F with a humidity level around 50-65%, increasing to 65-75% in the last three days of incubation. A consistent temperature and humidity are crucial for viable hatching eggs. Hatching can take 21 days for most chicken breeds, during which eggs should be turned at least three times daily until the final three days.
Raising Baby Chicks to Adulthood
Once eggs hatch, raising baby chicks involves appropriate brooding techniques to ensure that the pullets (young hens) and cockerels (young roosters) mature into healthy adult chickens. For the first 8-10 weeks, chicks require a heat source to maintain a temperature of 95°F, which is reduced by 5°F each week. Feed for the chicks should contain 18-20% protein and be in the form of easy-to-eat crumbles, gradually transitioning to lower protein levels as they grow. A clean, dry, and safe henhouse protects them from predators and extreme weather conditions.
Preventing and Treating Common Chicken Diseases
In Redding, CA, backyard chicken keepers must prioritize the health of their chickens by recognizing signs of illness, understanding common diseases, and establishing a comprehensive disease management plan.
Recognizing Symptoms of Illness
Being able to identify early signs of illness in chickens can lead to prompt treatment and increased chances for recovery. Chicken keepers should look for changes in behavior, such as lethargy or decreased appetite, and physical symptoms including abnormal chicken poop, respiratory distress, or unexplained weight loss. It's essential to periodically inspect the flock, noting any abnormalities like ruffled feathers or changes in laying patterns.
Common Poultry Diseases
Several poultry diseases are prevalent and require attention:
Fowl Pox: Characterized by white spots, scabby sores on combs, or white ulcers in the mouth.
Avian Influenza: Signs include respiratory issues and decreased egg production. It's crucial to practice good biosecurity to prevent the spread.
Marek's Disease: A viral illness shown through paralysis.
Coccidiosis: Causes bloody droppings and is usually a result of contaminated environment.
Prevention strategies are vital, and include proper sanitation and quarantine measures for new birds. Vaccinations may be available for certain diseases.
Creating a Disease Management Plan
Developing a disease management plan involves several key steps:
Sanitation: Regular cleaning of the coop and equipment.
Quarantine: New or sick birds should be isolated.
Veterinary Care: Establish a relationship with a local vet who understands poultry.
Record Keeping: Maintain records of any signs of illness and treatments administered.
By monitoring chicken health, providing vaccines where appropriate, and maintaining clean living conditions, chicken keepers can help prevent diseases from taking hold in their flock.
Navigating Community Resources and Support
In Redding, CA, individuals looking to raise backyard chickens can access a variety of resources and support networks. Understanding local guidelines and connecting with fellow enthusiasts are crucial steps in ensuring a successful and compliant backyard chicken experience.
Local Chicken Enthusiast Groups
Community-based chicken enthusiast groups offer a wealth of knowledge for the new and seasoned chicken owner. These groups provide a platform where members can share experiences, offer advice, and exchange tips on best practices for raising healthy chickens. A local presence can be found on platforms like BackYard Chickens, a blog where Redding residents come together to discuss their poultry-raising ventures. Participation in these groups also often leads to forming valuable connections, potentially finding local suppliers of feed, equipment, and even chickens.
Redding Planning Commission and Haven Humane Society
The Redding Planning Commission is instrumental in providing updated information on the regulations and guidelines concerning backyard chickens in the city. Recently, the commission has worked to relax restrictions on how residents can keep chickens, making it more accessible for the community.
Current restrictions include:
Coops must be at least 40 feet from dwelling houses.
Coops must maintain a 15-foot distance from side or back property lines.
Coops must not be within 50 feet of any front property line.
As for support, the Haven Humane Society plays a role in providing assistance for anyone needing help with chicks or chickens that may be lost, found, or require rescue. They serve as an important resource for the welfare of backyard chickens, ensuring that all animals are treated with care and compassion.
Coexisting with Pets and Other Animals
In Redding, CA, backyard chickens must be safely housed to protect them from common household pets like dogs and cats, as well as to ensure a harmonious environment with other backyard animals such as rabbits and ducks.
Protecting Chickens from Dogs and Cats
Dogs and cats are natural predators and may view chickens as prey. To prevent potential harm, it is imperative to:
Secure the coop: Enclosures should be strengthened with hardware cloth and a sturdy frame to resist dog and cat intrusion.
Train pets: Acclimate dogs and cats to the presence of poultry to mitigate chasing or aggressive behaviors.
Supervise interactions: Never leave chickens unsupervised with dogs or cats, especially during initial encounters.
Integrating Chickens with Other Backyard Animals
Rabbits and ducks can typically coexist with chickens, but require:
Separate living spaces: Provide distinct areas for each species to retreat to, ensuring they have their own safe haven.
Introductions: Gradually introduce chickens to rabbits and ducks in a controlled environment to assess compatibility.
Health checks: Regular veterinary visits to prevent the spread of diseases between species.
Comparing Redding Chicken Laws to Other California Cities
Redding, California, offers a relatively relaxed environment for raising backyard chickens, adhering to specific local ordinances related to zoning, proximity, and sanitation. Distinctions between chicken laws in Redding and other cities in California highlight the diversity in urban livestock regulations across the state.
Chicken Regulations in Los Angeles and San Francisco
Los Angeles permits the keeping of chickens in the backyard as long as they are kept at least 35 feet away from the owner's residence and 100 feet from any other dwelling. Roosters are allowed with limitations to prevent noise issues. In contrast, San Francisco has established regulations that allow residents to keep a small number of chickens without a permit; however, roosters are prohibited to avoid noise complaints.
Los Angeles:
Chickens must be 35 feet from owner's residence.
Roosters allowed with limitations.
San Francisco:
Small number of chickens no permit needed.
Roosters strictly prohibited.
Backyard Chicken Rules in Bakersfield, Long Beach, and Oakland
Bakersfield residents can keep chickens provided they are kept within specific distances from other properties, similar to Redding's rules, but the exact distances can vary. Long Beach's ordinances are more restrictive, focusing on noise control and limiting the number of chickens based on lot size. Oakland permits chicken keeping with certain conditions, emphasizing proper sanitation and maintenance to minimize odors and attractants for pests or predators.
Bakersfield:
Specific property distance requirements.
Long Beach:
Noise control measures.
Limit based on lot size.
Oakland:
Conditions on sanitation and maintenance.
Understanding San Jose and Anaheim Ordinances
San Jose's approach to backyard chickens includes specific space requirements per chicken to ensure animal welfare and neighborhood harmony. Anaheim also allows backyard chickens but mandates coops to be kept a certain distance from neighboring properties and places restrictions on the number of chickens based on lot size.
San Jose:
Space requirements per chicken.
Anaheim:
Coop distance from other properties.
Number of chickens tied to lot size.
