Creating a 3 fold educational pamphlet on backyard chickens

[Eggs-Actly]

Where r u at with this? Can we offer any further assistance?

 

[eatfruit]

Thanks all. It's in word document form right now, photos need to be added. I had way too much text in it-- as much text as I wanted to add, it was overkill. I know it has to be to the point/brief for people to read through the whole thing.

We have a graphic designer working on layout right now.

 

[HilltopFarm]

PM sent, I would love to have a copy of the work to use in my town fight.

 

[eatfruit]

Formatting is all messed up here but here is the text so far. Suggestions welcome. I would like to get a line in there about "sustainable communities" or something. Ideas?


Urban Chicken Brochure

Belle City Chickens


<front>



(picture of child holding chick)



Raising Urban Chickens in Racine (lg font)

The facts about this new movement(sm font)










<left inside>



(insert picture chicken/child picture)




Why is owning and raising backyard chickens good for our community?



* Chickens are great family pets and make wonderful education tools for children
* Chickens are easy and inexpensive to own
* Fresh eggs are healthier and better tasting than store bought ones
* Great for insect and weed control
* Free fertilizer for the garden and their waste is compostable, unlike cats or dogs
* Chickens are great recyclers, they use up kitchen scraps
* Locally sourced food is better for you and better for the environment




Other US Cities Successfully Allowing Urban Chickens:

Madison, WI

Chicago, IL

Portland, OR

Atlanta, GA

St. Louis, MO

New York City, NY and many more!







<right inside>



(insert photos of cute coops)


The Truth About Pet Chickens


Chickens are not noisy

Backyard chickens make very little noise. Roosters are NOT needed for hens to lay eggs. No early morning crowing! Chickens make far less noise than a barking dog.


Chickens are not smelly

Chicken farms are smelly, not backyard chickens. Four pet chickens make less waste per week than a dog or cat. Well cared for coops do not smell.


Chickens are not dirty

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, there are no health concerns regarding small backyard flocks. Chickens raised in clean, well-maintained conditions are healthy birds.


What would our legislation look like?



Like other cities that successfully allow urban chickens, good rules like these make programs run smoothly:



* Owners are only permitted to own up to 4 hens
* Roosters are prohibited
* Hens must be kept in coops
* Coops must be kept clean, attractive, and well-maintained
* Coops must be kept a minimum distance from neighboring houses
* Chickens can not be slaughtered
* Chickens must be enclosed and are not permitted to run free









<back>



(add family and chicken pic)


Support Urban Chickens in Racine!

To learn more about bringing urban chickens to Racine, please visit our website at:


www.bellecitychickens.org




For more information or to contact us, send email to

[email protected]

 

[NorTracNY]

That sounds very good. I'd only ask why 4? Does your state have a minimum allowed in ordering? I'm aware a lot of states require at least 6 to be purchased. To purchase through the mail, most are 25 for a minimum order. That would mean that someone would need to organize 6 other people who have no chickens to go in on the order.

 

[Iwantchickens]

I'd like a copy .... might need it someday ... LOL.

I live in a small rural town that doesn't allow chickens .... in a manner of speaking.

 

[BluegrassSeramas]

How cool!

 

[eatfruit]

We are modeling a lot of our suggested ordinance after Madison, WI (since it's only 1 1/2 hrs away from here) and I think we just assumed that 4 hens sounds like a non-intimating, manageable number to those council members who might be put-off by our proposal....
But that's a good point, thank you for bringing it up. I'll pass that feedback on.

 

[Nisorat]

I made up a pamphlet as well. I have the PDF if anybody wants a copy:

Pg1
Fairfax County
Chickens
[picture]
The Joys of Raising Urban
Chickens in Fairfax County
Virginia

Pg2
The Three “F's” of Backyard Flocks

Fear
• Chickens are smelly and stinky.
• I don't want to hear crowing!
• What about my property value?
• They'll bring coyotes!
• Will I get bird flu from your chickens?

Facts
• Well maintained chicken coops have little smell. In
fact, chicken poop can be used in compost for a
natural fertilizer!
• Roosters are not needed to make eggs... sorry guys!
Hens are more quiet than your average dog!
• Coyotes and raccoons are part of urban sprawl;
chickens locked in coops are no more tempting than
litter and trash.
• Well constructed coops are as appealing as a child's
playhouse! Besides, the urban chicken movement is
creating a demand for chicken friendly places!
• According to research from the Humane Society of
the US, backyard chickens are unlikely to catch or
spread the avian flu.
• The eggs gathered from 4 hens can save a family
HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR!

Future
• Cities and towns across the country are changing their
laws to allow chickens!
• Citizens want to know where their food comes from!
• Communities and individuals are moving towards
self-sustainment

Pg3
Current Legislation
• The keeping of domestic fowl is allowed as an
accessory use on any lot of two (2) acres or more.
• Sixty-four (64) chickens are allowed on a 2 acre lot.
Why Change?
• Legislation is decades old and outdated
• Few 2 acre parcels are available in the county
• Acreage only available to the wealthy
• Traffic conditions require urban living to make
commute manageable
New Legislation Ideas
Legislation that has worked in other cities
• Permitted up to 6 hens
• Roosters are prohibited
• Hens must be kept in coops
• Coops must be clean, attractive and well-maintained
• Coops kept at least 20' from any dwelling
• Chickens cannot be slaughtered

Pg4
The point...
• The initial idea of chickens in the city may
seem crazy, but it is successfully implemented
across the country. In some cases, chickens
have never left!
• Most chicken concerns are due to large
industrial chicken farms. These are cramped
and unhealthy living conditions for chickens
that ARE smelly, noisy and in danger of
disease. This is where you get YOUR eggs!
Backyard Chicken flocks are fun, easy, clean, quiet,
healthy and happy. The eggs are much more healthy
for you and your family!

Pg5
City's with Flourishing Flocks
✔ Chicago, IL
✔ Madison, WI
✔ Portland, OR
✔ Atlanta, GA
✔ St. Louis, MO
✔ New York City, NY
✔ Baltimore, MD
✔ Ann Arbor, MI
✔ Las Angeles, CA
✔ Denver, CO
✔ Miami, FL
✔ Atlanta, GA
✔ Des Moines, IA
✔ Boise, ID
✔ Louisville, KY
And Hundreds more...

Pg6
References and Fun Sites
• www.backyardchickens.com
• www.fairfaxcounty.gov
• www.urbanchickens.org
• Greger, Michael, M.D. “Avian Influenza:
Unjustly Blaming Outdoor Flocks”
http://www.organization.org/farm/news/ournews/avian
flu_free_range.html#24


I have to find some legal pictures that work and finish my references. I also want to double check all of the cities. It looks like a lot of text but it seems to work well. Any suggestions would be great!
Thanks

 

[eatfruit]

I had a similar section like yours "Chickens are Smelly" and then I laid out the argument against that statement. The feedback I was given is that if someone just glances at the brochure, you might risk re-affirming what they already think, or put false ideas into their mind-- someone compared it to a marketing technique.

Does that make sense? It's the layout I was first drawn to as well but then re-wrote/re-worded it accordingly.