Are chickens categorized the same as grazing animals?

[NewToFarming]

My township is saying that chickens are grazing animals. I was just wondering if if this the usual for other municipalities in that they categorize chickens with "grazing animals" on the ordinances. Thanks!

 

[JadedPhoenix]

That's a first for me. Foul aren't usually listed as grazing animals. Is that the wording in the ordinance? If it is, I'd fight it. Livestock or foul, then chickens would fit THAT. Not the grazing definition.

 

[wholehearted]

I have never heard of them being referred to as "grazing animals". But I've never seen the term "grazing animals" used in ordinances either. In our zoning, they are categorized under agriculture...sometimes they are listed as fowl/poultry.

Can you get a copy of your ordinances and/or share it here? I found it very helpful to read through every last detail of ours so that I could fully understand it. There is usually a section of definitions within the ordinances that tells you what everything means. So, in your case, there might be a definition of "grazing animals" that lists every animal they consider to fall under that category.

Good luck!

 

[NewToFarming]

Thank you! I will post it as soon as my hubby gets home to ask him where he stuck the letter. It is citing an ordinance dealing with grazing animals saying they need to be kept within a fenced area and are not allowed to roam freely on my own property!!! So they are saying they can't free range within my properties boundries. I guess I could understand this with steer or horses but not chickens! I would really appreciate guidence on this because I do want to fight this but want to try to become as educated about the laws prior to this before going to the township meeting. I did call to make them clarify what they mean and questioning the zoning etc. but of course could only leave a voicemail and no call back as of yet. I live in farming community with Amish farms all around. I also think they are citing more of a residential type zone and not agriculture because it also says we can't sell any animals or products of animals which everyone here would be violating. This would mean I couldn't sell even eggs! New city folk moved in down the road and I guess did not know what to expect with farm life. The Amish plan to put a dairy farm right next door to them which will also mean they could not sell the milk??? I will hopefully post tonight and would appreciate any and all advice you can give! Thank you!!!!

 

[JadedPhoenix]

Quote:

Just remember, chickens don't always observe property lines. I once freeranged and even though I have five acres, my chickens would consistently go about TWENTY FEET over the line and range on my neighbor's yard and roost on her porch rails. Fortunately she didn't mind that her yard (less than a quarter of an acre) was their favorite morning range.

As for your folks that moved in from NY, sometimes people are idiots. I have new neighbors that moved in from the local city and when I went out to practice my husband's gun the day before I went for my CCW permit, these neighbors whose property is TEN acres away called the cops and told them that I shot their house (Down in a gully). When the deputies came out they told me that all they could see was where a nail gun had been used. They were freaked out when they heard the gunfire. I should add that there is a hunting club on my dirt road that advertises just before these neighbors' turn off onto their driveway. I can count on my fingers the number of days that you will not hear gunfire of some kind.

 

[NewToFarming]

Right, I understand chickens don't always stay within their boundries and I understand if someone does not want a neighbors chickens on their property. In the letter, they are saying they cannot be out of the partially fenced pasture even though it still is my property. But the thing that bothers me about the townships letter is they are categorizing them as as grazing animals yet and citing what they have for special residential where they say you can have 1 cow or horse per acre or 3 sheep or goats per acre. We are not in a residential area and none of this mentions chickens when it states how many you can have in this residential area which we are not part of. We actually had been rezoned to "special industrial" so they could accommodate a landfill across the way years back. All of my neighbors have large farms except this one neighbor who has one little acre amongst all of these farms so everyone here would be in violation because they do sell and breed farm animals. My husband misplaced the letter. It is here somewhere and as soon as he remembers the safe place he put it I will post exactly what it says! I have had a game cam to catch any incriminating offenders that might even go near the neighbors house and there has not been one trespass as of yet over the past month.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Once you find the letter, write a very formal reply that lists your zoning, the amount of land you have and that your birds are contained on your property. (If necessary put up inexpensive temporary fencing to finish the "partially fenced pasture.") Cite the correct zoning references that show you are allowed agriculture.

One thing I will ask is whether the change to special industrial zoning altered any of your agricultural rights?