Pro-Chicken arguments needed

[valereee]

Hi! I'm new here, found you all on a search for 'why to raise chickens' at Google. I just learned my city is considering an anti-chicken ordinance. I don't have chickens, but I'd like to keep the option open, so I'm planning on going to the City Council meeting and making a pro-chickens case.

Here's what I'm arguing:
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There are so many reasons to find a way to allow rather than forbid backyard chickens. Fresh, organic pastured eggs sustainably raised should be within everyone's grasp, but for many of us -- especially now -- they're unfortunately out of reach. And, contrary to what Montgomery is assuming, chickens require very little space: a chicken needs less space than the top of the average kitchen table. Chickens make less mess, smell, and noise than the average dog. If cared for properly they make no smell or mess at all, and the noise from a laying hen is (what?).

Require that there be no smell. Require that there be no noise -- even that there be no roosters. Require that there be no mess. But why require that there be no chickens?
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So, what level of noise can I compare a chicken to that no one would normally object to in a suburban backyard? Are they less loud than many songbirds? Less noisy than what? Anyone know what decibels a chicken puts out?

Thank you for any help!

Val

 

[patman75]

hens are quiter than dogs.

you want to compost the dropping for your garden

**For me, since I have a sentitive gut** farm eggs dont bother me while I can not tolerate store bought eggs.

 

[SMan]

http://backyardchicks.com/

http://www.salemchickens.com/SalemChickens/Welcome.html

Look at the other fights being fought or won. LOTS of information in their packets that may give you the right idea. Also check to see if you have a local tilth that may help.

 

[flopshot]

get your birds before they pass the law. if they're contained and not a noise or odor issue i doubt they can make you get rid of them. something has to be done about these power tripping wannabe bureaucrats. if the argument about the chickens is anything like the gun control issue be prepared to deal with lies and misinformation.

 

[valereee]

Thanks for the help, all. I'm tempted to get chickens now, but for my daughter it would be the icing on her cake of parental embarrassments.

I figured I'd wait a couple years and she'll be safely in college away from the humiliation.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Sometimes its better to give kids things to

about rather than having them choose some other trait. My kids often refer to me as the "crazy chicken lady."