Local Council Concern Question

[newchick2014]

Hi all! I live in a rural village area that has, up until recently, left the ordinance regarding chicken keeping unenforced. With a change in council members pushing their own agenda, they now want to ban chickens in our village. We have amassed hundreds of signatures of village residents, all wanting to keep chickens. Yet they still refuse to budge. The biggest break through came last night when they voted to suspend enforcing the ordinance until they could discover more about chickens. The biggest "concern" currently being salmonella. Specifically salmonella leaching into a neighboring well system. I have never in my life heard of such a thing happening, and they are grasping at straws to find any reason they can not to listen to the people they are chosen to represent. During my searching I am not finding anything to support their claim, but also not to repute it. I am wondering if there are any resources I am missing?

 

[rosemarythyme]

That is the strangest thing I've ever heard. Unless everyone has hundreds of chickens just openly pooping into the public water system or drainage I can't imagine how salmonella would become a problem.

Maybe try contacting your state dept of agriculture for guidance? I mean, I have my coop and run about 10 feet from a creek and I have county workers marching by regularly, plus a third of my lot is designated wetlands, and no one's concerned in the slightest about the possibility of chickens tainting the water.

 

[Kiki]

Great idea.
Maybe the state vet also could send you an email explaining how Salmonella 'works'?

What state are you in?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Things like this are why I cringe every time another media outlet recycles the fear mongering about salmonella and backyard flocks. I second enlisting expert help from the state vet, local extension agent, etc.

 

[mortorffsquail]

I would definitely get the state dept. of ag involved along with a poultry vet or normal vet to help support your cause by educating the board of the salmonella tainting the water.

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Hi all! I live in a rural village area that has, up until recently, left the ordinance regarding chicken keeping unenforced. With a change in council members pushing their own agenda, they now want to ban chickens in our village. We have amassed hundreds of signatures of village residents, all wanting to keep chickens. Yet they still refuse to budge. The biggest break through came last night when they voted to suspend enforcing the ordinance until they could discover more about chickens. The biggest "concern" currently being salmonella. Specifically salmonella leaching into a neighboring well system. I have never in my life heard of such a thing happening, and they are grasping at straws to find any reason they can not to listen to the people they are chosen to represent. During my searching I am not finding anything to support their claim, but also not to repute it. I am wondering if there are any resources I am missing?

When I was working o legalize chickens in my city, a large concern was salmonella. My leading point was that salmonella is spread not like the common cold, but from incorrectly prepared meat or eggs. Good hygiene, proper cleaning, and handwashing will assure a safe city! Good luck! You can do it!

-Chatty