Caught with Chickens in Denville NJ

[okjenyp]

Good luck! Three chickens shouldn't be counted as a farm! I live in ks and am lucky I don't live in the city limits, but even in our city we can have 6 chickens. I have 17 and growing. And I am not farming them. We will eat some and have some eggs and share with family and friends. I think a farm is when people have 50+ chickens and need a huge house and run. I look forward to hearing about your progress and I hope the judge rules in your favor!

 

[cstronks]

I'm with okjenyp on this one. In all honest, a farm is run for profit, and if you are raising chickens solely for personal consumption and use, then you are by no means a farm. It is good that you are taking a stand and fighting your town for the right to have chickens!!!

 

[NJChix]

Hi,
Just wanted to ask you to please keep posting any info on your efforts to change Denville's chicken laws. My husband and I are looking to move from Parsippany and would very much like to move to Denville. I will only go there if I can have chickens. As of now Roxbury is the only town to allow chickens and that is too far away. So glad you folks are fighting for this.

 

[bdcunning1]

This other contradictory ordinance will ruffle a few feathers at the town hall.
19-5.730 Agricultural Uses.


a. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to assure the continuation and expansion of commercial and home agricultural pursuits by encouraging a positive agricultural business climate and protecting the farmer against municipal regulations and private nuisance suits, where recognized methods and techniques of agricultural production are applied and are consistent with relevant Federal and State law and nonthreatening to the public health and safety; at the same time, this section acknowledges the need to provide a proper balance among the varied and sometimes conflicting interests of all lawful activities in the State of New Jersey. The retention of agricultural activities is desirable to all citizens in Morris County because it insures numerous social, environmental and economic benefits including the preservation of open space; atmospheric habitat; the preservation of land as a nonreplenishable resource and as a source for agricultural products for this and future generations; and the protection and maintenance of the aesthetic beauty of the countryside and rural character of the community which includes farm architecture and scenic variety.

 

[lcg028]

Hi,
I'm new to BackYard Chickens as my family is getting a few chicks, we love farm fresh eggs and would like to just be able to walk into my yard to get them. I too live in Denville and see that there have been problems. Please let me know what I can do to help as I believe my little ones will be arriving this weekend (thought I'd let my children watch them grow, and reap the benefits later).

 

[bdcunning1]

Start with just a few, I have only 3 hens and a family of 5 but still give away a half dozen eggs a week.
Make sure the coop is safe from racoons.
I will let everyone know the outcome of the court case.
Justin Zaremba [email protected] will have an article out in a day or so.
The news loves chickens.

 

[bdcunning1]

I started a petition but I cant see it making a difference to the law.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/denville-nj-pet-chickens

 

[blucoondawg]

Petitions are good if you can get signatures, also getting the word out to others by newspaper, tv, radio, or simply person to person conversation is the best thing to happen, specify the issue at hand, explain the reason why the law is total bs, and point out exactly which town board members are the a-holes who are against a person keeping a couple birds, it is quite ridiculous, especially nowadays the trend is to allow urban chickens in regulated numbers.

This 250 foot rule is what tells the issue here, they made that rule because they feel chickens (which are livestock to them not pets, no matter how you keep them) are stinky nasty creatures and they want them far away from neighbors who would be offended. It needs to be pointed out that this is bogus as a proper coop with 2 or 4 or even 6 or 8 hens is not going to stink if properly kept up. A new law allowing chickens could still be quite restrictive in the towns favor, limit of 6 birds, no roosters, must be 15 feet from lot line, must stay on your property, no offensive odors, all these conditions could be kept in place and folks could easily have their small flock within that constraint. If this is pointed out there is no reason anyone should have an issue with it, neighbors will still be able to report problems if these stipulations aren't followed, any town board member who has an issue with that needs to be removed from office.

If you are not taking part in commercial farming or running a for profit hobby farm/petting zoo on your property I do not see how they can classify 3 pet hens as livestock, is a person who keeps a dog outdoors keeping livestock? This is essentially no different than someone putting a dog out in a kennel and keeping them that way.

 

[lcg028]

I also own many other pets, including rabbits which are kept in outdoor hutches. Have never had any problems with odors, disease or rodents, can't see why a few chickens would be a problem. Good luck in court.

 

[Maebh]

Best of luck! I hope that the judge has sense but the law is an ***.