animal control came and said to get rid of my chickens!

[Sonoran Silkies]

How did the meeting go?

 

[ODS-n-ENS FARM]

......................

 

[horsejody]

We haven't heard so I guess we can assume that she took an evil silkie to the meeting. The silkie either hypnotized the entire room and they are still sitting there dazed or it pulled a gun and they are all dead.

 

[b.hromada]

Hi everyone. We had not made it to the meeting in time.

All is not wasted, there will be another meeting in 2 weeks, which we will attend. I still have emails I will be writing to our district Commissioner and the Mayor. Like I said, I am not giving up. I also have to call the ACO and find out if he had spoken to our Commissioner, he told my hubby he was going to call him himself? I haven't heard from the ACO in almost 2 weeks now?
I am going to move my girls over to the other side of our yard this week, which is not near my neighbors house, so I'd better not hear anything from the jerk! One good thing though, my baby girl silkies will be bigger by then as well, they are now about 5-6weeks old. Pretty puffy for little ones, I must say!

You did hear I took them last week to our pet store and only one person knew they were chickens, and that was a young boy! Yes, the people got a kick out of them, and I'm hoping so will our Commissioners and Mayor. If you have any good pointers to make, that I may use when my next 3 minutes of fame comes, I'd really appreciate it. This time, I'm going to have to consolidate because last time we ran over. Please let me know. I'm sure you guys have a few good lines I could use against my city hall.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Does city code define "pet"?

 

[b.hromada]

No, they don't define "pet". That's why we tell them that our girls are our "pets", not livestock or agricultural animals for profit, etc. I do think that the Mayor understood that. He seemed genuinely interested. But in 2 weeks, we will go before them again. I will keep it up until we get a variance or exception to the ordanance. I'm not asking for an out and out change, just like I said, a variance or exception to the rule, so to speak.

 

[Cheep a'lil Talk a'lil]

I went down to our city office to find out about chickens since I have a very grouchy up-to-no-good neighbor. I wanted to get all my "chicks" in a row before I spent a lot of time and money and have her turn me in. They looked it up and found that I am in "moderate residential" (ya, right, on a dead end road, with every house on at least an acre and surrounded by fields?!) and that livestock was not allowed. BUT, they said, pets were *wink*wink*. They mentioned the neighbor behind us who has 10 head of cattle aka pets *wink*wink* and has one downed every year (for meat). So pets were not defined, but I do need to go back and ask if there is a limit.

The best of luck!!

 

[b.hromada]

thanks, Cheep, thats what I have been telling them, "pets", they each have a name, just like all our other animals. Maybe they will get the picture.

 

[BorderKelpie]

Just as a dumb suggestion, could you maybe try to locate some info comparing health benefits of home grown eggs vs store bought and explain to the mayor/commision,whatever that you are trying to take better care of your family's health? Reason I suggest that is I have an autoimmune issue, and both my kids have metobolic issues, therefore I 'need' to raise my own food as best I can for the health and happiness of my family. We have own own veggie garden, chickens for eggs (maybe meat this year) and ducks (also for eggs). By explaining that to my neighbors, and sharing the occassional eggs and veggies with them, everyone seems to have come on board and are now enjoying my birds instead of complaining about them. I also do everything I can to keep them as clean and quiet as possible as I am sure you are doing as well. Best wishes to you all!

 

[b.hromada]

BoarderKelpie, I never thought of that. Thats a very good point you make. We did mention to them about the cost of food, and that home raised chickens have exceptionally good eggs, and you always know where you food is coming from. Yes, I do keep the girls real clean,as I'm sure you probably have guessed

. I just think this man is a cranky old guy with a grouchy wife, and they have nothing better to do than make others lives miserable. Funny, he has never said anything to us, he only calls the ACO, go figure.

. Thanks so much for the best wishes. I needed that!