HELP !!!!!!!! They want to take our chickens!

[FingerLakesChick]

If anything should be against town ordinances... sunbathing nude should be!! LOL!! Well, I wouldn't care to see any of MY neighbors in their birthday suits anyway. Ewwww!!

 

[Bantam]

Thanks again for all the websites that were given!They helped alot.

 

[SkeeredChicken]

Don't you just love when someone hates their life so much, that they take joy in torturing other people. That smile was a sure sign that they were gonna get cocky and find the slightest thing they think is wrong and go tell someone. It's pathetic on their part. I for one feel it's an American right to be able to keep any animal you wish. Alot of people these days have been tightening a noose around American Civil Rights. Those same rights our ancestors spilled their blood to earn.

I have to say that some people have been saying, "okay, I don't object to that, much!" When they should have said, "you're wrong!" I would sure stand my ground and protest. Protesting in itself is something we have gotten weak on here. You dont see grass roots movements or protests like the old days any more.

As far as chickens, they're pretty much harmless. I think a cat would be far more to worry about. It's an agricultural right to grow/house chickens for food as personal use. Do you think that inspector would have gotten that grin on his face if he passed a vegetable garden? More than likely not. Do you think you would have gotten the same things happening for a garden? Maybe if you were growing Marijuana for personal use, but not for veggies or fruits. And how are chickens much different than that?

 

[Picco]

The state you live in has a huge agicultural economy, with dairy being a huge industry. I suggest looking for information about the plight of dairy farms in your state as well as in the whole country. Due to urban sprawl and a changing economy small, more sustainable family owned farms have been forced to abandon agriculture as factory farms have taken hold and monopolized the market. If you show your local government that what you are doing is providing your family with homegrown food, food that has reached your table without being tainted with cruelty and health hazardous chemicals. Use the facts about the loss of family farms as evidence to show how valuable agriculture is and how devasting its loss can be to the state's history and culture.

You're hens can become ambassadors for other backyarders, showing the public that when properly cared for chickens are quiet, do not smell, are clean and provide families with safe, nutritious food. Research other cities that allow the existence of suburban farming and use the success stories as evidence for your case.

You have a good chance of not only being allowed to keep your flock but to rewrite the lawbooks and be used as an example for other cities to follow. Best of Luck!

 

[Kimblee]

How awful for you.... you should fight! Your chickens have as much right to live there as any pets!

 

[Lonewolf2421]

This is just a temporary problem, take them somewhere else for a month or so, or make small pens for the garage. Then let them inspect! No more chickens. Keep them in the garage for a little while and let them out on a limited basices for a little while, then after the coast is clear put them back out. Or just sell or eat them, wait a few months then get some more!

 

[Bantam]

We went before the board last month and they agreed to look into it. Our next meeting is Monday June 4, 2007. the city attourney called and said he would like us to bring in a few pro chicken ordinances. ANYONE HELP???

 

[MTchick]

Here is a website with a huge list of towns and their chicken laws, summed up. It is a good starting point for further research.

http://home.centurytel.net/thecitychicken/chickenlaws.html

-MTchick

 

[WoodlandWoman]

That's a great list. You could print out that page and also use it to look on line for the municipal codes for those cities/towns.

 

[joanna]

Quote:
sooo...he can lay around naked where curious children might catch a glimpse (what child doesn't climb up a fence occasionaly?) and you had to move your coop? That totally seems SO NOT FAIR!

I'm fortunate that we live in a little town, where the City Attorney is a chicken friend...in fact she gave me my new chicks and offered her rooster anytime I want. I put my new coop out behind the garage and will utilize the current tractor for various reasons...problem areas in the yard, seeing who's laying or not, sick bay? So far, our neighbors have been good, one even kept a goat through the last 4H season.

Hang in there and check the ordinances yourself; before you go to court, get a petition signed by all your neighbors saying they don't care and that you keep your coop clean, and bribe them with eggs whenever you can.