Dont know about Asheville but ...they do fine in Dallas Texas!!!

got 9 chickens just now producing eggs. we use a mobile chicken coop that way that one piece of land doesn't get completely torn up. but if you are on a rental then it really would not matter .....

the only restriction here is no roosters in the city limits.... those cocks make a helluva holler

we've loved chickens for several years now...
We had our first pet chicken, a Ginger Red bantum, for 3 years -we loved her soooo much we decided to get more (and being the only chicken in the family, she forgot she was a chicken...hehe)
We got her a friend, a lil Black Tail Japanese Batum, and they did great...
But then we got 3 more and that got the attention of the hawks...

First, Lizzie got picked off....then the hawks got Pakora and Daisy and ripped their heads off...it was horrible.

The magic number seems to be about 2 to not get hawk attacks....we've had two for over a year now with no problems...
But we got a fertilized egg this summer 'cause Ibogo wanted to be a mommy and now have 3....
Ibogo, Nebula and little Photon...

We live in W. Asheville but have a fenced in yard which keeps a lot of critters at bay...they sleep locked up in a barn/shed...

Chickens are waaaaay smarter than people think...they are very social and loving and if treated like a pet, they will be one of the best friends you've ever had.

i was there in A'ville about a year ago and we were going to coop some chickens. you may want to check the city regulations about it. from what i gathered you need to have a completely enclosed coop (even the top)-have it inspected before and after the chickens arrive- and the pen needs to be (I believe) 100 yrds away from your nearest neighbors dwelling.

Sweet, y'all were particularly helpful. I hadn't even though about the problem of hawks. I was really more concerned about my punk ass cat...but I figured a few good pecks would probably learn him good.
And this whole municiple code this is great! I don't know how I would have found that.

Thanks again!