On Tuesday 11/7/2017 the City of Portage, Indiana voted down an ordinance that would allow backyard chickens. This is unfortunate for the residents of the city. It was demonstrated that some members of the Ordinance Committee and the Council did little research. The ordinance required a limit of 4 hens and no roosters. One comment made by the president of the council was that hens multiply quickly. I think he forgot his high school biology class (no roosters). One claimed that it would reduce property values. As a Realtor I find this not to be factual as neighboring Valparaiso property values have increased. Another claimed it would draw coyotes into the city. There are already coyotes in the city as well as not too far away downtown Chicago. I think our city council needs to do some research before making decisions like this.