No, I am a "Polyanna" kind of person. I believe there can be a possibility of asking for a variance or a waver! Or a bunch of other animal lovers might be willing to go in and meet with you and the City Council. Good luck!
Dialogue in City Council about chickens. Some of the Council seemed a bit concerned about overregulations. Maybe you could talk with them about "exceptions" or variances.
http://www.daphneal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Council-Packet.pdf
Type in Chicken and dialogue will come up...