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Thursday, June 28, 2012

Backyard bees and chickens in Lake Forest Park

Bee in flower
Photo by Steven H. Robinson
New, more flexible regulations on backyard chickens and bees in Lake Forest Park will be in effect as of June 5, 2012.

As of June 5, all single family lots may have up to eight chickens, with higher numbers allowed on larger lots. Roosters are not allowed. The changes also allow for the keeping of more honey bee hives depending on the size of your single-family lots. For more details about the regulations, follow the link to read the code amendments in Ordinance 1040.


4 comments:

  1. there will be a lot of complaints about bees swarming around swimming pools and ponds if you allow this in residential areas.

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  2. Oh I seriously doubt that! Thanks I needed a laugh. I bet there are hives close to you already and you don't even know it. We need bees-haven't you been paying attention?

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  3. Check back later for finger lickin chicken with bisquits and honey. Yummy.

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  4. As a beekeeper who collects swarms, I've never seen a swarm around a swimming pool or pond. Regardless, a 'swarm' is a temporary presentation, while the honeybees locate a new home. Honeybees in a swarm are incredibly docile.

    If you mean that you are concerned that your BBQ get togethers will be bothered by the increase in honeybees, have comfort with the facts.

    Honeybees forage on flowers collecting nectar and pollen. In the process they are pollinating all your flowers and vegetables.

    What bothers people are usually yellow jacket wasps (not bees). Yellow jackets are carnivores which are after the meat and fish that are out. They are aggressive and will repeatedly sting. (a honeybee dies if it stings, so are not ambitious about stinging)

    Assuming your outdoor gatherings are not overflowing with flower arrangements, you are very unlikely to be bothered by a honeybee. Honeybees really don't bother people and generally only sting if you accidentally crushed them. That seems fair to me.

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