February 8, 2024

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Today’s Forecast

73º | Partly cloudy | 15% chance of rain
Sunrise 7:17 a.m. | Sunset 6:08 p.m.

No need to bawk at these rules

Are you looking at me? | Photo by FTWtoday

Fort Worth may be known as Cowtown, but cows aren’t the only farm animals that might grace your property. Today, we’re here to decode — or de-cluck, pardon the pun — the code for keeping chickens in your backyard.

📄 Local regulations

The city code designates chickens as a regulated animal and allows them on residential or mixed-use commercial properties within city limits, as long as residents follow certain guidelines. Be sure to check with your local homeowners association for specific guidelines.

No free-range chickens here — birds must be kept in a fully enclosed coop or pen at least 50 ft away from any regulated structure such as a house, restaurant, or school. Chickens can be kept in a barn or shed as long as it is specifically designed for animals.

People keeping chickens must also follow city guidelines about the cleanliness of the property and proper waste disposal.

Photo of baby chicks in a pen under a heat lamp. — The number of chickens you can have is dependent on the size of your property.
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Photo by FTWtoday

🐓 How many chickens can I have?

The number of birds allowed depends on the size of your lot and no property can have more than two roosters.

A property measuring 0.5 acre or less can have 12 fowl.
A property measuring between 0.5-1 acres can have 25 fowl.
A property measuring one acre or more can have 50 fowl.

🥚 Can I sell the eggs?

Texas allows people to sell eggs from their backyard, but they must follow the regulations set by the Texas Department of Agriculture and Texas Department of State Health Services and hold appropriate permits. Learn more about the requirements to sell eggs at a local farmers market.

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Events

Thursday, Feb. 8

Mayor’s Committee on Persons with Disabilities Meeting | Thursday, Feb. 8 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Hazel Harvey Peace Center for Neighborhoods, 818 Missouri Ave., Fort Worth | Free | Join the public meeting in-person or virtually to hear reports on disability trends and plan future strategies and initiatives.

Friday, Feb. 9

Miller Lite Hot Country Nights: Joe Nichols | Friday, Feb. 9 | 6 p.m. | Shift4 Arena, 1650 E. Randol Mill Rd., Arlington | $20 | Enjoy a live performance from Joe Nichols, a mainstay of country music for two decades, bridging the gap between the genre’s old-school roots and contemporary era.*
The Mavericks | Friday, Feb. 9-Saturday, Feb. 10 | 8 p.m. | Tannahill’s Tavern and Music Hall, 122 E. Exchange Ave., Ste. 200, Fort Worth | $67.77-$259 | The country music band from Florida will take the stage at the Stockyards’ newest music venue.

Saturday, Feb. 10

TCU Women’s Basketball | Saturday, Feb. 10 | 4-6 p.m. | Schollmaier Arena, 3000 Stadium Dr., Fort Worth | $10-$15 | Don your grape-colored TCU gear for a Purple Out game against the Texas Longhorns.
Taste the Love | Saturday, Feb. 10 | 6-9 p.m. | Taste Community Restaurant, 1200 S. Main St., Fort Worth | $300 | Indulge in fresh recipes with your sweetheart in the annual Valentine’s dinner and fundraiser to end food insecurity — one ticket per couple.

Sunday, Feb. 11

Harlem Globetrotters 2024 World Tour | Sunday, Feb. 11 | 1 p.m. | Dickies Arena, 1911 Montgomery St., Fort Worth | $57-$218 | Watch the exhibition basketball team combine athleticism, drama, and comedy in this signature show.

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Number

$119.8 billion. That is the regional economic impact that AllianceTexas has had in the last 35 years. Home to 574 companies — primarily in transformation, innovation, and manufacturing — the 27,000-acre development saw $9.84 billion in economic impact in 2023 and $10.88 billion in 2022.

Edu

Applications are open for UNT Health Science Center’s inaugural nursing class. Apply now for the first bachelor’s and master’s programs with classes starting this fall.

Job

Tarrant County is looking for a new Director of Public Health after Veerinder Taneja resigned earlier this week, following 10 years of service. In 2022, Taneja’s management was reviewed by the county after previous employees reported a “toxic work environment.” Deputy County Administrator Tom Stallings will temporarily replace Taneja. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

Community

An estimated 1.14 million people attended the 2024 FWSSR over its 23-day run. This was a 9.9% decrease from 2023, which broke records with 1.27 million visitors. Despite the decreased attendance, the FWSSR had more contestants with 34,179 entries, 6.3% more than last year. (Fort Worth Report)

Concert

Texas Rangers’ favorite band Creed added a stop at Dickies Arena on November 13.Use code “DICKIES” for pre-sale tickets for the “Reunion Tour” are available now + open for general sale tomorrow at 10 a.m.

Cause

ACH Child and Family Services will host a job fair on Wednesday, March 20 at 3712 Wichita St. The 109-year-old nonprofit offers adoption, foster care, counseling, family services, and transitional living programs.

Plan Ahead

Mark your calendar for a Black History Month presentation and musical performance by the city’s Diversity & Inclusion committee. Afrofuturism: Imagining the Future While Honoring the Past will premiere on FWTV and the city’s YouTube page on Friday, Feb. 16 at 12 p.m. See other ways to celebrate Black History Month.

Travel

A friendly reminder to book spring + summer vacations (they’re just around the corner). Looking for privacy? This beachfront Bahamas cottage is perfect for two. Prefer the mountains? Book this newly built Gatlinburg, TN cabin. Want beach time? Walk to St. Simons, GA’s shore from this Vrbo that’s also a treehouse.*

Learn

Crafting custom cars isn’t just a job at House of Hotrods — it’s a passion that fuels every project. Here are ten things the House of Hotrods’ team loves about building these automotive masterpieces.*

Seasonal

🐉 Year of the Dragon

Photo of red and yellow paper Lunar New Year decorations on a library wall.

Don’t miss the vibrant decorations at the Vivian J. Lincoln library branch. | Photo by @ftworthlibrary

While official dates vary across different Asian cultures, Lunar New Year celebrates the start of spring and follows a lunar phase calendar. We’re here to help you ring in the Year of the Dragon with five free celebrations.

Fort Worth Public Library - Vivian J. Lincoln | Head over to see the red and yellow decorations for Tết, or Vietnamese New Year, and make your own dragon kite daily from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Saturday, Feb. 10.

Kimbell Art Museum | Join Fort Worth Sisters Cities for traditional Chinese music by the Dallas Guzheng Association, New Year couplet art making, and a scavenger hunt on Friday, Feb. 9 at 5:30 p.m.

Huong Dao Temple | Enjoy cultural performances, dragon dances, a traditional Áo Dài contest, and shopping at the Spring Blossom Festival through Sunday, Feb. 18.

2 more celebrations

The Buy

The Giving Heart pillow — a cream, knitted, heart-shaped pillow that’s weighted to replicate the feeling of a real hug. It’s the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for loved ones who deserve some extra coziness and care.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Kate

From the editor

Cheers to “Red Solo Cup” and “Beer for My Horses” — today, we’re pouring one out for Toby Keith. The country music legend died at 62 years old on Monday after a battle with stomach cancer.

The Oklahoma native’s breakout song “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” became an anthem for the Dallas Cowboys + he once started a frenzy at a North Richland Hills Walmart promoting his album “Unleashed” in 2002.

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