Back in 2021, one of the biggest issues in the City of Hastings was whether to allow keeping of chickens by residents. After much debate, it was approved.
Fast forward to 2024, and there are eight licensed residences that are allowed to have up to four chickens each. With the exception of chickens escaping their coop at one residence, there have been no complaints or problems logged by the city.
With that in mind, the city was approached about expanding the number of allowable chickens and perhaps including other kinds of poultry at residences at well.
Based on the work by City Planner Justin Fortney, the Hastings Planning Commission on Monday, May 13 approved ordinance changes that will allow up to six female chickens or three female ducks at residences. Residences can’t have both. It’s either chickens or ducks. In addition, allowable will be up to 10 quail, which are significantly smaller.
If a resident wants to raise ducks, they can’t have access to a pond or kiddie pool. The duck coop has to be a minimum of five square feet with runs of 15 square feet. Chicken coops must be four square feet with eight-square feet of run space. There must be 1.5 square feet for each quail in their hutch.
Fortney surveyed neighboring communities and found many allow other types of poultry.
“We’ve allowed up to four chickens for nearly three years in the City of Hastings. There was an instance where chickens had gotten out of one of the properties. Other than that, there hasn’t been any other complaints for the other chicken license holders. Staff doesn’t believe that two more chickens would cause any ill effects,” he said.
Fortney said, “Ducks have a reputation for being quiet, like chickens, but are a little bit more messy, and they require a little bit more management and cleaning and space,” he said. “Some cites allow them to be mixed with chickens and others do not. The internet, of course, is filled with both opinions on the matter. Staff understands that mixing them together does work, but it’s not the best practice. We’re proposing that a license holder can be issued for chickens or for ducks but not mixing them together.”
Quails only weigh about a half pound, while chickens can weigh up to 10 pounds.
“Quail mature much more quickly and can lay eggs as quick as six weeks compared to six to seven months for chickens,” said Fortney. “Quail are even more quiet and can be housed compactly. Their hutches take up a little room and are not very noticeable. For that reason, staff is proposing that keepers of ducks and keepers of chickens could also keep quail.”
Fortney said staff felt that allowing chickens and ducks on properties would “clutter yards and be esthetically detracting.”
“Forcing animals from different orders to live together doesn’t seem ethical, even if it works,” Fortney wrote in a memo to the planning commission.
Fortney was asked why chickens are limited at six.
“I think the reason why people want to keep chickens is for consumption of eggs for their family. I’ve had chickens before, and when you have six chickens laying eggs – I eat a lot of eggs – and that’s more eggs than our family could eat. I don’t know if there’s a reason to go beyond that and still call it an accessory use for the family,” Fortney said.
The planning commission recommended the city council approve the ordinance changes. Final vote will be at the June 3 council meeting.