r/upperpeninsula • u/Alowishs • 12d ago
Discussion Backyard Chickens
I'm thinking of getting a small chicken coop for 5-8 chickens in Iron Mountain. Fresh eggs are calling to me.
How do Yooper townships react to backyard chickens? (Specifically the Iron Mountain/Kingsford area.)
Thanks for any feedback and advice.
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u/906Dude 11d ago
Two of my neighbors in Munising have them. No issues. I don't mind. No one else minds. It's all good. I actually kind of enjoy seeing them run around.
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u/Alowishs 10d ago
Thank you - you're a breath of fresh air amongst the curmudgeons. I appreciate you.
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u/No_Relationship_8021 12d ago
Yooper township? Well if you're from iron mt best bet would be go to a city council meeting and ask
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u/Alowishs 11d ago
Thank you. They'll say no. Not allowed. My underlying question is how strict and tattley are residents?
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u/No_Relationship_8021 11d ago edited 11d ago
If its not allowed then dont do it, its probably for a good reason. Be pretty disrespectful to you're neighbors don't you think
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u/marigoldpossum 8d ago
You should drive around and see if there are any other neighbors in the area that have backyard chickens. If you don't see anyone else breaking the rules, that itself is a sign that you'll be noticed and likely reported on.
I live downstate and had backyard chickens for a while. After the initial cost for setting up coop, etc; they are very easy to maintain, kind of a cross between a cat and dog in regard to maintenance.
But winters are tough --> you have to break up ice to provide water twice/daily; I imagine your setup will be more challenging up north compared to mild winter weathers of southern Michigan. You need to be *very* careful on having electric bowel heater as with all of the straw/bedding in their coop, you are at a very high risk of causing a fire. And if your zoning doesn't allow it, be prepared for your home owner's insurance to deny any claims if a fire does occur.
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u/RobbieDread 12d ago
Just do it. Keep no more than six hens. If you happen to acquire a rooster, harvest it as soon as it starts crowing. Put it in the soup pot. And be prepared to pay a fine if someone does report you.
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u/No_Relationship_8021 11d ago
And what about the smell ?
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u/RobbieDread 11d ago
Smell almost always comes from moisture plus nitrogen, so the goal is to keep things dry and carbon-heavy. Six birds is very manageable.
Deep litter with plenty of carbon. Start with 6–8 inches of pine shavings, chopped straw, or leaves, and keep adding a fresh layer whenever you see or smell droppings. Turn it occasionally, or toss scratch grains so the hens turn it for you. A healthy deep litter smells earthy, not like ammonia.Ventilation high up, no drafts down low. Put vents near the roof peak, about 1 sq ft per bird. Ammonia and humidity rise, so let them escape. This matters even in a Madison winter, because damp air causes both odor and frostbite.
Poop board under the roosts. Most droppings land overnight. A board with sand or PDZ that you scrape every day or two removes the bulk of the smell source.
Dry run. Avoid low spots, add a roof or partial cover, and lay down wood chips. A muddy run is the biggest smell culprit in fall and spring.
Waterer and feeder discipline. Use nipple or cup waterers so the bedding stays dry, and keep feed off the ground to avoid moldy spills and rodents.
Enough space. Aim for about 4 sq ft per bird inside and 10 sq ft in the run, which means roughly 24 and 60 sq ft for six. Crowding concentrates manure faster than bedding can absorb it.
Compost what you remove. Spent litter is excellent for the garden after it ages 4–6 months in a hot pile. Don't let it sit in a heap next to the coop.
Quick fixes. Sprinkle sweet PDZ (zeolite) or food-grade diatomaceous earth on wet spots. These manage odor but don't replace dry carbon.
A quick test: if you smell ammonia at chicken-head height, add bedding and ventilation right away. It's unpleasant for you and hard on the birds' lungs.2
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u/No_Relationship_8021 11d ago
The majority of backyards in iron mt are the size of a postage stamp. No matter what you do the neibors are gona smell them especially on summer days
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u/Shelif 12d ago
Most the local townships have a zoning law that tells you how many your allowed to own. I think the norm is 6 but I’d reach out to your township and ask someone for help there