- Aug 9, 2010
- 84
- 4
- 41
I've had chickens here in Stafford County, VA for the past several months. Since I could never find anything on line about them, I assumed that they were probably not legal (especially going by reactions of family and friends). I did it anyway, primarily because I have cancer that feeds on hormones, and I wanted hormone-free stuff. Reading/watching about what goes on in commercial operations, I was not even remotely convinced that the "free range" eggs advertized in our stores were, in fact, organic, free range, etc.
So my neighbor comes over and tries to convince me that he knows a farm where I could donate my girls, that I'm really illegal and should behave better, yada yada. Doesn't help that we go to the same church. I told him I am okay with God, thank you very much. He was shocked because God would never tell me to do anything illegal, that thinking I'm above the law is wrong, etc. So I decided to look once again at all the bylaws and rules and such. And I found that, sure enough, livestock is not at all allowed in residential areas (and I am very definitely residential). But then I looked at their definition of livestock and was surprised to see that every animal under the sun is mentioned (including ostriches, fish farms, goats, deer, etc.) EXCEPT chickens or poultry or fowl.
So yeah, livestock isn't allowed. But according to their own definition, livestock doesn't include poultry. AND, even though pigs aren't allowed, I can have a pig if I get my neighbors to agree...not that I want one, but it's good to know...So nyeahhh.....
So my neighbor comes over and tries to convince me that he knows a farm where I could donate my girls, that I'm really illegal and should behave better, yada yada. Doesn't help that we go to the same church. I told him I am okay with God, thank you very much. He was shocked because God would never tell me to do anything illegal, that thinking I'm above the law is wrong, etc. So I decided to look once again at all the bylaws and rules and such. And I found that, sure enough, livestock is not at all allowed in residential areas (and I am very definitely residential). But then I looked at their definition of livestock and was surprised to see that every animal under the sun is mentioned (including ostriches, fish farms, goats, deer, etc.) EXCEPT chickens or poultry or fowl.
So yeah, livestock isn't allowed. But according to their own definition, livestock doesn't include poultry. AND, even though pigs aren't allowed, I can have a pig if I get my neighbors to agree...not that I want one, but it's good to know...So nyeahhh.....
