The Hall family started raising a few chickens in their backyard. After seeing pictures and reading stories online, they decided to meet some chickens to figure out if it was the right choice for their family.
Aaron Hall says, “We were thinking about it for the eggs and the ticks and we thought it would be a fun pet, and then we went to a little store in Anoka where they had all these little chicks and we fell in love and we said it would be so fun to have them. So, we got them home and then we realized we need a spot for them to stay. We started watching YouTube videos to learn about what it’s like to care for chickens, went to Home Depot, built this for $60 to have a temporary spot until winter comes and then we’ll do something a little more permanent.”
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As they were thinking about the chickens, they also met other Blaine residents thinking about the same thing. Aaron learned about the movement to petition the city council for change on Facebook.
Aaron adds, “There is a website on Facebook called the Underground Chicken Movement where people have been pushing to have chickens legalized and we found out there was a city council meeting, we showed up at that. It was a fun experience in civic lobbying for the kids, a simple issue and it was really fun to see. It overwhelmingly passed to have chickens as pets.”
That website became the main way Blaine chicken fans communicated with each other. They share tips about raising chickens, information on certain breeds, and coop designs. After buying the chickens and building a real coop, Aaron says that his family will never actually save money on eggs. So, while the eggs might be a perk, these chickens are just like any other family pet.
“Having chickens is very similar to having a dog.” Aaron continues, “You have to feed them, give them some water every day, clean their cage once a week like you have to give a dog a bath. There is a little bit of maintenance, but it’s not too bad.”
The Halls are very aware that as one of the first chicken owners in Blaine, they are responsible for helping show their friends and neighbors what chickens are really like.
“This is a new law. If it becomes a problem, I think the city council is going to clamp down. So, it’s up to all chicken owners to make sure that you’re respectful and being good neighbors in the neighborhood,” Aaron mentions.
The dissenting vote on the city council was cast by council member Dick Swanson who supported the idea of chickens, but believed that the neighbors on either side of the property should be able to have some input about the chickens.
Chicken coops cannot be within 30 feet of a neighbor’s home, and are limited to 60 square feet or less. There is a one time city fee of $45 for chicken owners as well.
If you are interested in learning about of the requirements to own chickens in Blaine, contact city hall.
