Did you know... that it's perfectly legal to keep up to 10 chickens (NO roosters!) in your backyard within Sebastopol city limits?! Excellent, isn't it? (see excerpt from the municipal code for details below).

We thought we'd share a few resources we've come across and hope that you'll let us know about others you like!

Great locally-created website about sustainable chickens as well as innovations for the sustainable chicken enthusiast (created by graduates of the Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy): http://www.sustainablechicken.com/

Local Chicken Chat Yahoo list - great folks, great resources: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/chickenchatcoop/

Locally (Petaluma) hatched organic chicks & pullets -http://www.ranchhaghens.com/

Local feed stores selling chicks (usually starting in Spring) and chicken food (along with other farm/pet supplies):

• Frizelle Enos (no website)- 265 Petaluma Ave, Sebastopol - (707) 823-6404
• Rivertown Feed & Pet Coutnry Store - in Petaluma (often have a great variety of breeds to choose from.
• Western Farm Center - in Santa Rosa (very helpful, too)
• Larsens Feed & Pet Supply Center - Cotati
  

Please share your resources and so we can make additions to this list! Contact web@transitionsebastopol.org or post a comment below!

City of Sebastopol Municipal Code (version dated 7/22/09)

6.10.100 Fowl: Conditions for Keeping Within City.

A.  No roosters or peacocks shall be kept within the City limits.

B.  No person shall keep on any premises owned, occupied or controlled by him/her any domestic fowl, except ten (10) or fewer chickens may be kept; and, in the Residential Estate, Residential Agriculture, and Rural Residential Zoning Districts, up to twenty (20) domestic fowl including chickens, ducks, geese, quail, or turkeys may be kept on parcels of 20,000 square feet or greater in size. Where domestic fowl are permitted, such fowl shall be kept in an enclosure sufficient in all respects to confine such fowl within such enclosure and no part of such enclosure shall be situated within 5 feet of any property line, or within any required front yard area, and no part of such enclosure shall be situated within 25 feet of any dwelling unit for occupation by or occupied by human beings, except such dwelling as may be owned or occupied by the person owning or having control of such fowl. Notwithstanding provisions in this Section, no person shall overcrowd in any crate, box or other receptacle domestic fowl or poultry or fail to provide proper food, water, shelter or sanitation for the same.

Full City of Sebastopol Municipal Code available here (city website). (confirm version is the latest)