Dear Cathy: I have seen books and magazines on keeping chickens in suburban settings. Does San Antonio allow chickens in backyards and if so, what are the laws? Are chickens noisy? Do they smell? Will they attract other animals, like rodents? I would love to try this, but don't know the laws and the background on keeping them.


Dear Marisela: It may surprise San Antonio residents to learn that you can have up to three domestic fowl in your yard. However, their housing must be at least 50 feet from any other dwelling. So keeping chickens would not work in small or urban backyards very well. You will need a relatively large yard.

Homeowners associations (HOAs), however, have caught on to this chicken-keeping phenomenon and may have additional restrictions written into their HOA declarations. So check that out, too.

As for your other questions, ask any kid what sound roosters make and they will shout a cock-a-doodle-do! at you. Hens are much quieter, simply clucking as they walk around. You don't need a rooster for a hen to lay an egg. She will lay an egg regardless of whether there's a male around. The egg just doesn't get fertilized.

Chickens in general don't smell, but their habitat can smell if not maintained properly. Animals usually are attracted to food, not other animals (unless you live in the country, then a coyote might consider your chicken a tasty snack). Keep food in secure metal containers and the habitat free from leftover food.

Animal Care Services sent me the most current information, which you can find on my Animals Matter blog at under “San Antonio's Chicken Ordinances.”

If anyone keeps chickens and has any other advice, please let me know. I would like to learn more about this trend.

Dear Cathy: My dog likes to eat my cat's food from her bowl, but sometimes he eats my cat's food after she vomits it up too. Any advice on how to stop both?


Dear Rick: When dogs are in the house, cat food bowls must be placed either on a higher surface reachable only by the cat, such as a scratching post ledge, or in a room where a baby gate can be mounted a few inches off the floor, so the cat can scoot under and eat undisturbed.

As for your dog eating the food after your cat vomits it up, I would say thank you to your dog, since this reduces cleanup and doesn't harm your dog. Then get your cat on some hairball prevention to reduce these incidents.
