calling any one from missouri

[ChickenCanoe]

My little bit of chicken heaven is in jeopardy.
Apparently the Post-Dispatch article about my chicken preservation program alarmed the mayor of Black Jack because of the mere presence of chickens within the city limits.
This is a city, incorporated as recently as 1970, yet where my family has been raising chickens almost continuously since the 1870s.
There are many chicken (and rooster) owners in this semi rural north county community. It has come to my attention that one of the Mayor's neighbors has chickens.
I received a letter from the city that I am in violation of city code, even though 5 other Black Jack chicken owners (3 of which live on my road within a mile of my house) besides myself and the author of the Post article researched and could find no violations. According to the letter, I'm accused of having a "Poultry Farm". I've worked on poultry farms, worked in the feedmill industry where a poultry farm consists of tens of thousands of birds packed in confined housing. Mine isn't a poultry farm. The largest group I have is 8 birds.
According to the letter I must remove my birds from the property by July 2.
There has been no attempt to find other chicken owners in town nor ask them to remove their chickens.
I'm asking for equal treatment under the law.
As far as roosters go, I've been in continuous contact with neighbors and all tell me they are not a problem.
In addition to gardening and living a sustainable lifestyle, I'm trying to preserve one of the rarest and most unique breeds. Brought back from extinction by the Spanish government and a Catalan University in 1984, the Black Penedesenca's genetics are barely hanging on worldwide. Spain has a stable population. Some more exist in Germany, Ireland and Argentina. 80 eggs were brought to the U.S. and 13 hatched. All that exist here are from those 13 birds.
They are unique in many ways. They lay the second darkest egg (after Marans) of all chickens, yet are the only chicken with a white earlobe that lays a brown egg. The adult birds lay an egg between 60 and 80 grams which is x-large/jumbo, they lay lots of them. In Europe they are renown as being organoleptically unique having one of the best tasting meat of any chicken. An annual festival, Fira del Gall (Fair of the Rooster) the weekend before Christmas provides these roosters to the people of Catalan for their Christmas dinner.
They are the hardiest and most disease resistant bird I've ever raised and left to fend for themselves, are great foragers with the ability to stand up to any daytime predator.
I would hate to lose this bird's outstanding genetics to history.
Also, I teach beginner and intermediate classes on backyard chickens at the St. Louis Community College. So I'm not a random chicken wrangler but someone with nearly 60 years of experience. I also have a home on the St. Louis area sustainable backyard tour. My chickens are a big part of my sustainable living endeavor here providing compost, weed/insect control, eggs and meat.
My neighbors, fellow Black Jack resident chicken owners, St. Louis Backyard Meetup members and the press attended the next city council meeting which opened a firestorm of media attention in papers, TV and radio. Even a rap station reported and were definitely in my corner.

Here are links to recent TV news coverage, in case anyone missed them, and links to the original stories that sparked the issue...

The problems started with the following newspaper article

http://www.stltoday.c...

Then the citation came and we descended on city hall en masse

http://www.stltoday.c...

http://fox2now.com/20...

http://www.kmov.com/v...

http://maplewood-brentwood.patch.com/blog_posts/black-jacks-chicken-saga-continues

check out the comments in all the stories. Every single one is supportive of me and negative to the city and mayor.

http://snewpy.com/2006/08/norman-mccourt-where-are-you/

So I'm not sure what the future of my Black Penedesenca flocks and breeding program holds.
I'll keep you updated.

 

[newduckie]

Hi Chickencanoe. Wow, that is all that I can say. Looks like it is time to get a new mayor. I read a couple of the stories and sounds like he may back down, but maybe to go another witch hunt. Good luck and let us know what happens..

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I think the witch hunt has begun.
The mayor called me late Thursday afternoon June 7 asking me to send a letter to city hall requesting an extension of the deadline. On June 8 I sent a certified letter. The City won't get that letter till the 11th. On June 9th I received a letter with a new deadline (5 weeks later). I thought "that's a start" but I looked at the postmark and noted it was sent before the mayor asked me to request an extension. It feels like they want to make it appear they are trying to cooperate to alleviate the intense heat and let the matter cool down.
If they were already in the process of granting an extension - what sense does it make to have me send a letter asking for what was already granted.
The strange thing is one of my neighbors with chickens also got a letter on the 9th to remove his chickens(and roos). So if they are backing down, why are they continuing to pursue removal of chickens from the city.
Methinks that something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

The mayor also told me not to do anything rash, I told him "I'm not a rash person."

 

[Cotton42]

I think the witch hunt has begun.
The mayor called me late Thursday afternoon June 7 asking me to send a letter to city hall requesting an extension of the deadline. On June 8 I sent a certified letter. The City won't get that letter till the 11th. On June 9th I received a letter with a new deadline (5 weeks later). I thought "that's a start" but I looked at the postmark and noted it was sent before the mayor asked me to request an extension. It feels like they want to make it appear they are trying to cooperate to alleviate the intense heat and let the matter cool down.
If they were already in the process of granting an extension - what sense does it make to have me send a letter asking for what was already granted.
The strange thing is one of my neighbors with chickens also got a letter on the 9th to remove his chickens(and roos). So if they are backing down, why are they continuing to pursue removal of chickens from the city.
Methinks that something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

The mayor also told me not to do anything rash, I told him "I'm not a rash person."

I'm sorry to hear about all your troubles. My family and I have been following this story for the past few days. Hope everything works out for you! We're all rooting for you here in SoCo!

 

[newduckie]

yeah, dont do anything rash.... like cause any sort of bad publicity for him.... lol... Turn the heat up until he backs off.

 

[drbryce]

I'm looking for a Place near central Missouri to pick up more chickens whIch may be about ready or already laying. Any outlets anyone knows about? Thanks

 

[CGinJCMO]

I'm looking for a Place near central Missouri to pick up more chickens whIch may be about ready or already laying. Any outlets anyone knows about? Thanks

Where exactly in Central MO are you and how far are you willing to drive. Check out CraigsList for Chicken or hen in the search box. Also try Chicken Swap of MO on Facebook (the link is a few pages back somewhere).

CG

Edited to add: I found this Craigslist listing for Hunstville: http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/grq/3068915636.html
6 Raod Island Reds that are 9 months old along with the metal laying box and the waterer. The whole works for 150.00 dollars. They are laying very large brown eggs

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Look in the Missouri poultry yearbook where all NPIP flocks are listed. All hatcheries and some quality breeders that often sell POL birds.

http://mda.mo.gov/animals/pdf/poultry_yearbook.pdf

The River Hills Farmer's Market in Silex always has birds of all ages the second Saturday of every month. It's 30 minutes north of Wentzville between Troy and Bowling Green.
Saturday they had at least 20 people selling poultry. Everything from American Games and White Rocks to bourbon red turkeys.
Upcoming events are a sale on July 14 at city park
Sale with 4-H and FFA free setup on August 11 at city park
Fall poultry fest, sale and rooster show September 9 at the Silex School.

 

[Mamabear66]

Where exactly in Central MO are you and how far are you willing to drive. Check out CraigsList for Chicken or hen in the search box. Also try Chicken Swap of MO on Facebook (the link is a few pages back somewhere).

CG

Edited to add: I found this Craigslist listing for Hunstville: http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/grq/3068915636.html
6 Raod Island Reds that are 9 months old along with the metal laying box and the waterer. The whole works for 150.00 dollars. They are laying very large brown eggs

Chicken Swap of MO: http://www.facebook.com/groups/2250.../326670204082302/?notif_t=group_comment_reply

 

[Mamabear66]

Im in Dixon and I know there is a framer w lot of various chickens. that's where our local feed store get them. There are few people in Mid MO that have several chickens as well, that sell, swap or whatever on Chicken Swap of MO: http://www.facebook.com/groups/2250...if_t=group_activity#!/groups/225021300913860/

There are Swap meets as well. Good Luck. I just stared(5 plus weeks) raising chickens, or I'd be more than happy to help