Results of LaCrosse WI Chicken Ordinance?

I live near LaCrosse WI, and had read in the Tribune they were going to vote on Thursday on the ordinance allowing up to 5 backyard chickens (similar to Madison), yet I haven't read anything further? Anyone in the area know what came of it?

The minutes of the August 12, 2010 meeting haven't been posted to the city web site yet.

I listened to the live webcast of the meeting. It was deferred for 60 days and to be studied by a committee of five to be appointed by the mayor.

Ignorance prevailed, as usual. One of the council members said he got a letter from a bird sanctuary in Vermont (read that as animal rights activists) that described all of the ethical issues with raising chickens for pets and what a burden it would be on the Humane Society when everybody decided that keeping chickens was harder than they thought.

There were comments made that it would be a burden on city resources to follow up on all of the complaints that would come in.

One council member said that he felt the ordinance wasn't ready and there were many more things that needed to be considered and he brought up points on animal welfare. It sounded like he wanted an extensive ordinance to describe exactly how and where coops should be built. In my opinion it's an extensive ordinance that will burden the city. They don't have rules on what is appropriate housing for dogs or where you can put a dog house.

I agree with you "Mac in Abilene," extensive ordinances are a burden. I'm willing to bet, If you take a good look at the laws and ordinances that are already in place, there are more than enough to enforce any problems that would ever come about by an irresponsible backyard chicken keeper. For example, What if a chicken run starts to smell? What if a dog pen starts to smell? What if a chicken gets loose in the neighborhood? What if a dog gets loose in the neighborhood? And I hardly think you need to worry about a runaway chicken mauling a child, as you may for a stray dog. What if someone has more than the allowed amount of chickens? I have a neighbor that has four dogs and only two are allowed in our city ordinances. You would address the chicken complaint just like any other complaint. It would be interesting to have statistical information on cities that allow chickens . . . for instance, how many complaints come in for issues regarding dogs and cats vs. chickens? I bet the number is minuscule in comparison. This concept that people will be lined up at the doors of city hall for chicken licenses is unwarranted.

I find the "ethical" issues and the burden on the Humane society almost laughable. As if anyone ever looking to re-home or acquire chickens would go to the humane society. Anyone who was looking to re-home their chickens would likely post an add in the paper/craigslist or check with a local co-op or farmer. I had three roosters in my home flock (and being in town I was only keeping hens), I put flyers up at my local co-op and grocery stores, and had them re-homed within 2 days. I assure you, there will never be "stray" chickens wandering the neighborhood because someone didn't neuter them.

I will be interested to see how this turns out. I live in a nearby town, and have had a backyard flock since only May . . . I have great neighbors who are very supportive, but I worry it will be an issue if nearby Cities outlaw it.

http://www.salemchickens.com/index.html


The info packet in here has letters from several different code enforcement personnel that state the number of complaints.

I checked with two of the communities that allow chickens here. There were 141 complaints or requests for permits in Columbus since 2006; this is a city of over 700,000 people. The code guy in Lancaster said he receives maybe 10 complaints a year about chickens; two of those where he actually had to check on the complaint. But he wouldn't go and check that figure. So I think he was overestimating. Lancaster has about 35,000 residents.

Eau Claire vetoed having chickens in the city.Really too bad

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Thank you for the information!

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I watched this story as well. It is too bad

The City of La Crosse finally passed an ordinance to allow chickens:

http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_53d9c1ce-918d-11e0-9468-001cc4c002e0.html

I used to live in La Crosse, WI and for all of the push in that city to "go green", you'd think that the citizens would get the fuzz out of their heads and get with the times! Getting a chicken ordinance passed with a "sunset clause" attached to it?????? What are the chickens going to become juvenile delinquents or something. As for them being abused???? anyone who has taken the time to build the hutch, do the research, raise the little buggers and enjoy their fruits, I seriously doubt that they are going to "slap the hen that feeds them!"

I never thought I'd see the day where I could say that the ordinances in Madisonville, KY were ahead of those in Wisconson; especially a city as progressive as La Crosse, but apparently that day has come..............maybe we are just that far behind