I need help fighting city hall! Please- links, support and advice.

[weaveagarden]

On August 31st I will go from being within the law (with my 46 chickens) to being 42 chickens over if the vote turns out as expected. I had planned to be at about 18 pullets by the end of September, after the cockerels are ID'ed and farmed out or otherwise dispatched.

I have some difficulty these days responding verbally when I am nervous or stressed, so I want to prepare a pack of information for my council members to look over.

What I want to propose is that a local committee (of fellow cluckers) be formed to help our small town's (7500 people) poultry fanciers to avoid nuisance problems by education and helping hands if needed.

I am hoping that they will either grandfather in those of us with more than 4 chickens or increase the number to 12. I would like to also see them allow roosters for an additional registration fee. With a nuisance clause that would help to weed out particularly boistrous males.

Some of their basis for the number 4:
Other towns and cities are allowing 4 or less.
A family of 4 can feed themselves on enough eggs "because each chicken lays an egg a day"
Chickens are dirty and loud
Chickens spread disease
Dogs are limited to 3 or 4
Roosters are always noisy and start crowing at 3 in the morning.

Other facts:
There is no limit on pet birds.
We have a no dog barks after 9PM to 7AM and scoop your dog poop laws - enforced just a little and only if complaints are recieved.
I personally have many neighbors whose dogs poop in my yard, bark at all hours of the night and day, and some that run free.
I have a neighbor with a large indoor bird (parrot maybe) that screaches and whistles loudly and a lot daily, especially when there is activity outside.
I use my poultry raising as a source of physical, mental and emotional therapy for a difficult health disorder that I have.
For me this is really more than a lifestyle choice. It is also an expression of my spirituality and connectedness with the world and for lack of a better term, my god.(Believe it or not... I really did feel this way before I began thinking about ways to fight this)

I know there is plenty of room for fight, but I can't figure out how to get to all of the facts that will support me in my quest. I need help. Thanks.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

First of all, I don't think they can not grandfather you and anyone else who already has chickens and roosters.

Second, the ordinance should address the nuisance, not its cause. If the concern is noise, then regulate the hours of noise, its frequency (as in constant, vs an occasional problem) and loudness. As you indicated, a dog barking every night all night long is just as annoying as a rooster that crows every morning at 3am; likewise loud engine repairs that go on from 10 to midnight every night would be annoying. Volume should be measured at the owner's property line--in other words, if the volume doesn't disturb you, then it doesn't matter how loud it is on YOUR property, but once it goes over the line, then the volume becomes an issue.

For odor and health issues, the concern should be about maintaining property that is not conducive to breeding flies or pther pests, and waste should be properly disposed of (which should include composting as a legitimate method of disposal). If you absolutely must have some sort of inspection, it should be by the county or state agricultural office, not the health department, who really have no knowledge of poultry. Also, the legitimate concerns over health issues relate mostly to eggs and meat, generally following state and federal laws should address those concerns--there are very few diseases that can be passed to humans by airborne means; almost all require direct contact.

 

[weaveagarden]

Thanks of the quick reply. Very good suggestions and wording.