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Beaverton lays plans to let chickens roost in the city

Proposed ordinance could lift a longtime prohibition against the fowl

Pamplin Media Group, Nov 8, 2009, Updated Nov 10, 2009 (3 Reader comments)

Pamplin Media Group file photo

Chickens could be allowed in Beaverton under a proposed ordinance that would change city code so residents could keep up to four birds in their back yards. The ordinance could go to the City Council early next year.

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The city of Beaverton is the latest local government to jump on one of the region’s hottest issues: chickens.

If a new ordinance is approved sometime early next year, the city could begin allowing residents to have up to four chickens – no roosters, though – in secure backyard enclosures.

Right now Beaverton residents are prohibited from keeping chickens in their back yards. All that could change after planning commissioners floated the idea three months ago to alter the ordinances and allow chickens in backyards.

City leaders first raised the issue of allowing people to raise chickens during an August City Council-Planning Commission work session. Representatives from the city’s neighborhood groups discussed the proposal in September and October as part of the Beaverton Committee for Citizen Involvement.

On Nov. 4, the Planning Commission discussed for the first time a proposed ordinance allowing city residents to keep four chickens and possibly ducks primarily for eggs. It doesn’t allow roosters, on site slaughter or butchering of the fowl or sale of the chickens’ droppings as fertilizer.

At a hearing that night, several people testified that raising chickens was one way for people to get fresh eggs and maintain healthy lives. Most extolled the virtues of eggs fresh straight from the henhouse and the value of chickens that eat bugs in the yard.

A few people who testified against the proposal were mostly concerned about the cleanliness and odor caused by chicken coops.

Beaverton joins a handful of other Portland-area suburbs dealing with the chicken issue. In late October, Gresham decided against changing its city code to allow the raising of chickens inside the city. Forest Grove also decided this year to let residents raise chickens in the city without permits.

A City Council work session on the issue is tentatively scheduled in mid-December, with a proposed ordinance going to the council for approval in early 2010.

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Reader comments

Re: Beaverton lays plans to let chickens roost in the city

We have had chickens for several years now. I supply the neighbors with fresh eggs during the spring when the girls are laying daily. Our six hens keep us and the neighbors in fresh eggs. We clean and move the chicken coop weekly. The droppings fertilize the lawn and it grows like mad where the coop has been. The chickens keep the bugs and the weeds out of the back yard. They are also a great source of smiles and laughs as they are fun to watch.

"Jades"

(email verified)

Mon, Nov 09, 2009 at 10:39 AM

Re: Beaverton lays plans to let chickens roost in the city

Sounds like you have a good thing going Jades. You are no doubt a responsible owner. I'd be willing to bet however that most would-be chicken owners will not be as responsible as you. An unkempt coop is very smelly. Chickens who roam free leave their droppings everywhere they go. Roosters do not crow only in the morning. My mother who lives outside the city purchased 4 "hen" chicks last year. One ended up being a rooster. They don't offer returns and she wasn't about to kill it. What is the plan for that situation? Not what I envisioned when I moved to the 'Burbs. I can't quite figure out why there is this push to bring the farm to the city. What does an 18 pack of eggs cost anyway? $1.80 at WinCo. 10 cents per egg? Max of 4 hens = 4 eggs per day. That is 120 eggs per month. If they do in fact cost 10 cents, that is a savings of $12/per month not including feed and other expenses. I know they taste better, but is it really worth the possible community headaches?

"Brian"

(email verified)

Mon, Nov 09, 2009 at 09:33 PM

Re: Beaverton lays plans to let chickens roost in the city

I have been bothered by more careless stray or persistently loud barking dogs than any other types of animals, yet their owners are not forbidden to have their favorite pets within the limits of the City of Beaverton.

Reasonable restrictions, such as limited number of hens, no roosters, being kept in backyards, etc are easy to comply with. Furthermore, there are several local chicken owner groups who are willing to have tours for prospective owners to help newbies see what chicken care invovles.

The only change that I would suggest is that the permenent hen coops be kept at least 20 feet from any neighbor's home or living space, rather than the fence lines. since the purpose is for people's health and comfort zones.

Why not give this ordinance two or three years experience and then see if any trouble develops that our experienced neighborhood arbitration system can't handle?