There are increasing numbers of local government bodies across the country that support residents’ rights to have and raise chickens. It is a welcome development that more towns and cities are accepting chicken ownership. There are many concerns about chicken ownership. Inflation in food egg shortagesA steady source of delicious, affordable protein can help you grip the country.
Backyard chickens refers to egg-laying and nuisance-y birds, which are only found on farms. t-shirts). My book is about backyard chickens. We should all eat from the hands that feed us: What smarter laws would make our food system more sustainable?They are valued for their eggs and lack of fertilizer. Chickens have been “the face” of backyard livestock, as I explain. As I also detail in my book, several major U.S. cities—including Denver and Seattle—have moved to allow backyard chickens in recent years.
Owning backyard chickens can pose challenges. My friend’s neighbors here in Seattle have lost several chickens to foxes and raccoons—a reasonably common problem. Chickens can be euthanized. Carry and transmit diseases. They may also fly with the coop. Being“The fowl” [a neighbor’s]”Foyer”, until they are returned. Chickens who live long enough to lay eggs eventually stop doing so.
Chicken ownership is increasing despite these difficulties. One place where chicken ownership is on the rise, Iowa’s Story County. MoveTo allow homeowners to raise their chickens at home (which AppearAmes already allows backyard chickens. Cecil County legislators in Maryland are considering permitting backyard chickens. The proposal would prevent people from keeping chickens in their homes, however. Cecil Whig reported last month.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture is more permissive than Cecil County in allowing chicken owners to own their eggs. Whig notes. Baltimore City allows residents to keep 4 hens per lot that is less than 2000 square feet. That’s about 1/25th the area.
Palatine in Illinois is considering legislation that will reduce regulatory obstacles facing potential chicken owners.
“Residents are allowed to have backyard hens—not roosters—with a special use permit,” the Daily Herald reported last month. This means that they must prepare a plan, hold a public hearing in front of the zoning board, and obtain approval from the village council.
The council may remove some or all of these unnecessary hurdles in the next year.
Many cities across the nation still ban or restrict backyard chicken ownership despite the improving environment for chicken owners. You can find out more about the laws in your area. ColumnLast year, the story was about a Pennsylvania couple trying to stop them from keeping ducks or hens in their backyard. I also saw fights for similar bans in New Hampshire and Iowa. There are other restrictions that continue to be in the news.
For example, in Eaton Rapids (Michigan), local officials were present for October TelledThe woman, whose family has been keeping chickens on their 2 acre urban yard for many decades, was informed that she would have to “remove the birds” or risk a 90 day misdemeanor as well as a $500 fine. Carolyn Adams (77), was made to surrender her flock.
New York City residents of Utica had hoped for a new plan to zonify their community that would permit chicken ownership failedThis year, they will be thriving. Utica has one opponent to backyard chickens Explain.The reasons she opposed chickens were fireworks, dust, the neighbor who smokes cannabis, as well as “many other cultures” living around the city that don’t know our way of life.
Many good reasons exist to encourage people to raise chickens in their backyards. Both chicken ownership and regulatory reform seem to be increasing. The challenge for advocates is explaining the advantages of quality eggs, pest control and property rights to those who might be reluctant to accept them.