Brentwood CA newspaper article. I'm in it!

[Whispering Winds]

I went to a town meeting in Dec. about a listing I have on 10 acres within city limits. The sellers wanted the village to change the law and allow horses. No dice. One of the board members said he was told right to his face, that if "you change the law to allow horses there, I AM GOING TO GET CHICKENS FOR MY BACK YARD." He said it like it was a brothel. I then quoted to him about BYC and how so many small towns and larger municipalities were changing their minds about letting people have a few chickens, minus the rooster, because of BECOMING MORE SELF SUFFICIENT. Did not make a bit of difference to these men, but I felt good that I had given BYC a plug!!

Good luck, and I hope it becomes rampant across the USA that people are allowed to have chickens!!! Our self sufficiency has all but been taken away from us by well meaning boards, but its time to take back the land!!!

 

[2Girlsn4Hens]

Hi There - We are local Brentwood residents (and chicken owners...Shhh...) who just found out about all of this yesterday when an email was circulated to all Shadow Lakes residents written by the Deer Ridge chicken hating psychologist. Our Neighborhood Watch program was used to circulate the letter and bullet points. I already addressed the person who used this resource in poor judgement, however, what concerns me most was that the "FACTS" that were circulated were FALSE and represent both naive and uneducated viewpoints. That is why there were so many letters read last night from Shadow Lakes residents - someone is trying to "rile" the two golf course neighborhoods using false information and unfounded statements. I would think a psychologist would know how to do research! The problem is, that the Commissioners (at least one of whom lives in Shadow Lakes) also have no prior knowledge of the subject of "backyard chickens." So, they were only taking in what they were being told by someone who claimed to have the "FACTS."

My husband and I would like to join in supporting the request to amend the ordinances. We read your letter attached to the Agenda for last night's meeting. I would love to email you outside of this forum -

 

[Slywoody]

As an outlaw and owner of outlaw chickens, i wish you all the luck in the world making your chickens legal. It would be SO much easier to come out of the closet, However it's not going to happen here, ( due to the gestopo (sp) forces that rule here). Makes a person wonder what this world is coming to. Like a few back yard chickens is the most evil thing to ever happen. It's all about control. I better shut up now.

 

[Gnawsey]

ohhh....that makes me so mad 2Girlsn4Hens. I was wondering if someone had passed out fliers. There were about 10 negative emails from shadow lakes and 1 positive. Also, the one commissioner that was from shadow lakes flat out refused any chickens on any lot size. It is very frustrating to have to sit and listen to lies about how dangerous and deadly backyard hens can be.

I would love to have your support in any way. I'll Pm you my email.

Stacie

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Stacie,

Really sorry I couldn't make it, but keep me posted on the next one.

I'd suggest getting neighbors of people with chickens that aren't bothered by them. Really show how proper care means little / no problems and that the neighbors are happy. Say you fully support going after those that improperly raise chickens.

Determine and if need be, validate the concerns of those that are upset and work toward resolutions.

Are the issues, "I just don't like chickens!!!!" or "Chickens smell" or "Chickens are loud!!"

We have chickens throughout Pleasant Hill and most people don't even know their neighbors have them because there are no roos and the chickens are kept properly.

BTW, first thing I want to do when people complain about chickens is ask politely:

1) Do you currently live next to someone with chickens so you can speak from real, objective, applicable experience?
2) If you DO currently live next to someone with chickens AND there are problems, what are they and will they be addressed by the ordinance we're promoting and the proper care of chickens?

I'd venture to say 96.465% of the time either they've never lived by chickens, or lived / live by someone who isn't following the proposed guidelines (too close to property line, too many birds in small area, roosters, etc.) and also isn't giving proper care.


2Girlsn4Hens, can you post the letter and the "FACTS"? PM me whatever else you have!

 

[Gnawsey]

Thanks 2Girlsn4Hens. I've tried PMimg you, but aren't sure if they went through. My email is [email protected] Please feel free to email me anytime.

Nifty-Chicken. Thanks for the advice. I might try contacting my old neighbors, (when we had chickens) and see if any will speak. The next meeting is the City Council meeting on January 26th at 7pm.

Sonoran Silkies- thanks for the great ideas on who I can contact!

Stacie

 

[Cluckhead]

http://www.ktvu.com/news/22351455/detail.html

The council seems to be kinda deadlocked. Keep pushing. Do we need to start a letter writing campaign?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
I would suggest contacting the county extension, state agriculture department or state vet and asking them to provide a written opinion of the information point by point. You might also get some well-known books on raising chickens (anything by Gail Damerov, for example) and find references that refute the errors point by point, and list correct citations. SHOW the correct data in a manner to elicit positive reactions towards chickens and cast doubt on those opposed with demonstrated ignorance.

 

[2Girlsn4Hens]

Hi All - this thread is closely related to the "Neighborhood Watch" thread - Gnawsey is the resident who legally asked for permission to keep chickens some time ago, and my Neighborhood Watch is working against that request. So the latest update:

The Planning Commission voted 3-2 to send the amendment to City Council. The amendment is to allow 3 hens on lots 10,000 sq ft or larger with provisions for setbacks.

Last night, 01/26/10, the City Council decided to change the lot side to 6,000 sq. ft. min. and then deadlocked in a 2-2 vote with one member absent. So this is going back to City Council in two weeks, 2/9/10, for a tiebreaker.

I would like to point out: NO OPPOSITION SHOWED UP AT THE MEETING! Yeah!!!

However, all of the true and accurate facts have been presented by residents, local farmers, backyard chicken owners and researched by our own Land Use Committee. The legwork has been done. Two members of our Brentwood City Council reaffirmed all of this last night - all the right reasons to allow backyard hens.

What is standing in the way is the mindset of one City Councilman (and residents who spoke via email), and an unexplained Mayor, both of whom voted "NO." The City Councilmen said, "Chickens belong on farms." This is the real opposition left for us to battle. Many residents in Brentwood want to build an upper class, controlled, retail/business based community and forgo the rural roots (which the KTVU news coverage pointed out). They simply don't want "farm" animals in backyards. All other opposition has been well refuted.

This is the the only remaining qualm - chickens perceived as "farm" animals.

 

[Cluckhead]

I see cats on farms all the time too but I'd consider a chicken far less invasive to my neighbors than a cat is. I live in Livermore and we can have up to 10 hens and no roo's.

I wish you luck!