Community Forum

Thought I'd share my experience with chickens in the city of Idaho Falls. I had read like you did and assumed it was ok. I called the city and was told as long as it wasn't a rooster, it would be fine. So I brought my chicken coup and five hens to my backyard. I had a fenced area for them (because I had a dog). They were here for about three months. They were pretty quiet and finished laying by 11am. My kids loved them and I loved that I could provide fresh, organic fed chicken eggs for my family.

Then I had a knock at my front door, there was a uniform at my door asking if I had chickens. I said yes, but only hens no rooster. She incredulously asked why, I explained that we eat chicken eggs. She had attitude and told me I couldn't have them in the city. I told her what I had been told on the phone when I called the city. She said I was misinformed, no farm animals are allowed in the city limits of Idaho Falls. She said I had to get rid of them that day. I asked if I could have two days, as I only had a car and the coup didn't fit in the trunk. She reluctantly agreed and said if they weren't gone by then, I would have a fine and they would confiscate the chickens. Thank goodness my sister and her family live out in the country so we keep them there now.

I made many phone calls checking to see if what she told me was true. I found the city ordinance you guys shared and asked if chicken hens were ok in the city as long as they were under fifty pounds (cause it read that way to me). I was met with attitude and hostility. No.

I really wish chicken hens were allowed in the city of Idaho Falls. There are plenty of cities around the country (including Boise) that allow chicken hens in the city, with restrictions of course. They are a natural bug/pest cleaner, the lawn looks great, and they are MUCH quieter than several of the neighbor dogs that constantly bark. If someone wants to put together something to try and change the city ordinance, I'm IN!!!

Hi all! I just found this forum this morning as I searched for information regarding having hens for egg consumption in the Idaho Falls R-1 zone. Like many things home grown, eggs taste so much better, and are healthier than those we pick up at our local stores. I understand not having roosters due to the early morning alarm system warning that the morning is nearing and it is time to rise and shine. Hens do make a fuss when laying, though not so loudly as their male counterparts, shorter in duration and through my experience no hens ever layed in the wee hours of the morn, though I do not claim to be a chicken expert. My knowledge of chickens is limited to my experience as a very young girl where we lived in the city elsewhere and were allowed to have hens as well as roosters. Later in my childhood we moved to a horse farm and had chickens there also. What I do remember is that the yokes were more orange, the fresher the egg the more fragile the yoke and the taste was much tastier than the bland commercial comparison. Hmmmm……warm childhood memories. Those we buy in stores, I have read, can be upwards of 30 days old before they get to the shelves. In my search for chicken Q&A and the mysteries of local residential zoning ordinances, I ran across the minutes of the Idaho Falls City Council meeting in February of this year where this subject was brought forth, but evidently not voted on. Since then I have found very little more on the matter. So my question is, was it ever presented to the council to vote on or investigate further? Are they planning on a public discussion or is anyone asking to be placed on the agenda for further discussion? I would love to have 3 or 4 hens, have a fenced garden area that does not get enough direct sun to favor the growing of vegies and feel it would be the perfect place for them. It is said that chickens need about 4 square feet of coop (perch and nest) space and 10 feet of run area for free ranging. I would provide 200 square feet in total if this were ever allowed in our zoning ordinance. Also the waste would be cleanly composted to feed my beloved ornamental plants with care to not cause a nuisance to my neighbors. So where do we go from here? I will be concise from here on out!

Okay, my research has led me to the conclusion that it is legal to have chickens within city limits.  The law is that you may not have any domesticated animal over 50 pounds, and no "dangerous" animals.  I doubt chickens are considered dangerous.

I have been speaking with a professor at ISU and I am going to be undertaking an agrarian remodeling of my property to demonstrate how grroots farming could be plausible, even highly successful.  I'll be talking with city officials and residents who participate in residential farming and ranching as a part of my reseach.  Would you be interested in helping me with my project?

Hi, Jeremy…

Good to see you back. I got a chuckle from your headline… the word is spelled coops, not coups. I thought for a second that Rhode Island Reds and Leghorns had seized the city council and were taking over the local government!

Nice to see you back Jeremy.  Hope to have you contribute to our discussions again, it would be nice to have your input.

Take care  (and good luck with the chickens….nothing like fresh eggs!)

Hello all,

It's been quite a while since I joined the conversation on this site (my my how it's changed!).  Are there any old souls here?

I have a question – my wife and I are starting to plan our garden for the summer, and have considered adding a chicken coup for fresh eggs.  We live on 9th st. well within city limits, and we have been led to believe that having chickens on your property is totally legal.

Do any of you have any information about this?