Backyard chickens need more regulation: Safety of birds and people at stake

[Lazy Farmer]

Bad neighbors are bad neighbors, it doesn't make the laws bad. Every day I drive to work there are bad drivers, but I don't think they should change the laws to allow for passing on blind corners and increase the speed limit. The laws are there for our safety and well being and the more people that respect them, the better they work. There are two sides to every coin and having laws to regulate chickens isn't inherently a bad thing. Generally speaking, people who are responsible likely have very little to worry about.

Agreed. Whole heartily. Although complaints from neighbors get the "ball rolling" with local regulations. When LG receives tons of calls about trash on the side of the road, they post "signs" with fines on them (costing $). When neighbors complain about their neighbor's poultry, the L/government HAS to respond. Thousand's or more of responses cost time and money to local government's budget pockets. So more regs are implemented. I agree some regulation should be in place. But lets not get carried away.
Suburban regs are justifiable because of the close proximity of housing, but small rural hobby farms who are zoned Agriculture should be on a less shorter leash.
As far as the subs are concerned, "good fences, make good neighbors".
And if you choose to live in the burbs, you should expect the regs to come with that particular life style you have chosen.

 

[theoldchick]

There is a lot of concern of back yard flocks contaminating commercial flocks raised for mass production. While I agree some regulations are utterly ridiculous there does need to be some laws to protect the backyard flock from becoming the neighborhood flock. Having just experienced mass drop-off of unwanted roosters on my property, I seriously considered putting a ban on idiots owning chickens. Ain't nothing like waking up at 5 am to the sound of 50 crowing roosters. Most were young, some were old, all are now in freezer camp thanks to some folks we know who wanted roosters for processing. Unsure of the diseases these birds might have carried, I put my farm in quarantine for 30 days. All eggs were burned, all feces and other waste was burned, Nolvasan became my best friend as I spray down all the vehicles.

What we need to do is educate people who keep the backyard flock. They need to have knowledge of poultry disease, have a thorough understanding of biosecurity so they can understand the concern of spreading disease. While most of us want the best for our birds, I've seen many backyard facilities that need to burned to the ground. The horrid conditions these birds are kept in are potential vectors for disease than can wipe out a commercial flock. When ill birds go to a flock swap they spread the disease like wildfire. Many people here have experienced the horror of adding a bird purchased from a swap only to have the entire flock come down with some sort of illness.

We need to educate the backyard flock owner on biosecurity and other matters to prevent the need for strictly regulating ownership and care. Once we realize the backyard flock is a serious threat to the commercial flock that feed millions of people, we may understand why some folks are worried about the potential problems of disease destroying one of our main food suppliers.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Having just experienced mass drop-off of unwanted roosters on my property,

Almost 3 times a year that happens to us. We have zero neighbors whom keep birds. So they were intentionally thrown over our fence line. It is rude, crude and obnoxious to force livestock on unsuspecting farmers. Should be considered a felony. The last Roo had severe scaly leg mites. I almost had a panic attack. HOURS upon hours of inspecting my flock after the intruder was introduced. I had close to 200 birds to inspect at the time. That individual should be behind bars for committing such as thoughtless-insensitive act.

 

[PirateGirl]

I also want to throw this out there since no one has mentioned it. I'm not sure about other countries, but in the US sometimes the chicken laws are made not in regard to pets or meat or eggs, but in regards to cock fighting operations and attempts at stopping this practice. People own chickens for many different reasons and keep them in many different environments and one size fits all legislation is a slippery topic.

 

[centrarchid]

I also want to throw this out there since no one has mentioned it. I'm not sure about other countries, but in the US sometimes the chicken laws are made not in regard to pets or meat or eggs, but in regards to cock fighting operations and attempts at stopping this practice. People own chickens for many different reasons and keep them in many different environments and one size fits all legislation is a slippery topic.

I am from the cocker end of the spectrum. The rules are not targeting that as it once did. Rules are ratcheting up even as cocker types are disappearing and are being also implimented in areas where cock fighting effectively ceased a couple generations ago at the very least.

 

[Conan]

I don't particularly care for the implications, but then again - I am never big on new laws/regulations (hehe). Yes, I am one of THOSE people
I have been to South Park (love the town!) but it is definitely a very small town with a very low permanent population. I can't see animal control having the time or resources for such visits where I live. We can't even get them to come out and remove dogs attacking our birds on our property.
Yes, some people keep birds in gross conditions. I think most don't. At least where I am anyways - Lots of folks around here who don't have a lot of money, but they take care of their flock. The same can't be said for commercial egg and meat operations. After seeing what those animals live like, I will never again buy cheap eggs!
I agree that educating folks is always the best answer - which is why sites and forums like this one are so awesome! Have a question? Post it and you will have a ton of replies from folks who are real pros and lots of encouragement from those who aren't. BYC is rad.

 

[Ggg]

That's California for ya. . .Our hippie governor passed a law against the dairy farmers but the big oil companies can pollute all they like. They are in his pocket. And he's a vegetarian. http://www.newser.com/story/231361/cow-farts-can-now-be-regulated-in-california.html

https://www.ogj.com/articles/2018/01/oil-firms-agree-to-cut-methane-emissions.html

 

[Ggg]

I don't particularly care for the implications, but then again - I am never big on new laws/regulations (hehe). Yes, I am one of THOSE people
I have been to South Park (love the town!) but it is definitely a very small town with a very low permanent population. I can't see animal control having the time or resources for such visits where I live. We can't even get them to come out and remove dogs attacking our birds on our property.
Yes, some people keep birds in gross conditions. I think most don't. At least where I am anyways - Lots of folks around here who don't have a lot of money, but they take care of their flock. The same can't be said for commercial egg and meat operations. After seeing what those animals live like, I will never again buy cheap eggs!
I agree that educating folks is always the best answer - which is why sites and forums like this one are so awesome! Have a question? Post it and you will have a ton of replies from folks who are real pros and lots of encouragement from those who aren't. BYC is rad.

Expensive eggs are no different than cheap eggs unless you’re referring to buying from individuals (like neighbors) that keep chickens.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Expensive eggs are no different than cheap eggs unless you’re referring to buying from individuals (like neighbors) that keep chickens.

I'm pretty sure that was the implication.

 

[Cullen Bohannon]

The entire poultry/egg industry is based around big business and legal government corruption.

Annual profit increase is mandatory!!!!

When profits begin to slump, teams of cooperate investigators are hired to study where "their" profits are going.

We as public poultry producers (peasants) are beginning to receive a big enough slice of "their" profits, so they are initiating action and turning "their" lobbyists loose on congress to manipulate governing laws.

In order to guarantee that stock holders continue to see annual profit increases. "They" will begin to pass ruthless and criminal laws against us. With ZERO legitimate science backing there bogus safety concern allegations!



And make NO MISTAKE they will hide under a fictitious cloak of "public safety"!!! All the while "their" only concern is Cooperate Profit!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not Your health or any Birds quality-of-life!

Please, God Bless us!......

I would like to finish by saying... the folks who choose to sell eggs or meat...the farm should be completely transparent to the end consumer. If you come to my place you will see free, well kept birds, able to roam over 600 acres of fine pasture land laced with crystal clear water.... Tyson and Eggland's nasty houses and abusive living conditions would not stand a chance if the public would just wake up and give a darn!!