Question for the Moderators

[RaZ]

I joined this group more than a year ago when I started my backyard flock. I've enjoyed the wisdom of so many people and have made several friends both on-line and in person. I have participated in chicken-stock events, swap meets and educational meetings and even legal proceedings that promote keeping of poultry.

Recently, I'm distressed that poultry detractors have been lurking on the forums and using BYC posts to prosecute or persecute those who keep fowl at their homes.

Some of our "guests" have been printing screen shots of posts with the sole purpose of creating problems for chicken keepers. Some of these print outs are are being cited as "evidence" in cases where the keeping of poultry becomes a local ordinance issue. I'm aware of a couple of local governments that are harvesting names and locations for the purpose of prosecuting "outlaw" chicken keepers.

I'm not asking that BYC makes a stand for or against keeping poultry from a legal standpoint. What I'm asking is if there is a legal reason that what is posted here cannot be used as "evidence" against one who has poultry and may be seeking legal remedy to do so.

In other words, can what I post on this forum be used against me legally? Can any of my comments be used (pro or con) by any outside entity, without expressed, written permission of the owner of this site?

Thank you,
Randy Z.

 

[BackyardFarmMom]

Great question!

 

[ZaksGarden]

I believe legally they can use posts for evidence. I know police have used facebook photos, and even YouTube videos to give tickets, and even make arrests.

I believe since it is a public forum it is fair game. I could be wrong...we'll see.

 

[DMRippy]

NOT a moderator but YES. This is a PUBLIC forum open for anyone to view. If FB can be used against you this sure can as ANYONE can view these posts, no membership required.

 

[DuckLady]

Simplistically, it like the Vegas ad.

What Happens on the Internet Stays on the Internet.

So, if you don't want it out there, don't put it out there.

 

[onedoodle3]

I joined this group more than a year ago when I started my backyard flock. I've enjoyed the wisdom of so many people and have made several friends both on-line and in person. I have participated in chicken-stock events, swap meets and educational meetings and even legal proceedings that promote keeping of poultry.

Recently, I'm distressed that poultry detractors have been lurking on the forums and using BYC posts to prosecute or persecute those who keep fowl at their homes.

Some of our "guests" have been printing screen shots of posts with the sole purpose of creating problems for chicken keepers. Some of these print outs are are being cited as "evidence" in cases where the keeping of poultry becomes a local ordinance issue. I'm aware of a couple of local governments that are harvesting names and locations for the purpose of prosecuting "outlaw" chicken keepers.

I'm not asking that BYC makes a stand for or against keeping poultry from a legal standpoint. What I'm asking is if there is a legal reason that what is posted here cannot be used as "evidence" against one who has poultry and may be seeking legal remedy to do so.

In other words, can what I post on this forum be used against me legally? Can any of my comments be used (pro or con) by any outside entity, without expressed, written permission of the owner of this site?

Thank you,
Randy Z.

You'd think they would have more important things to do than go after chicken owners!!

 

[RaZ]

You'd think they would have more important things to do than go after chicken owners!!

Well there is that. But it is so easy to go after the little guy who is only trying to survive.
Since my story broke in the local paper, they want to make an example and are using every venue they can find against me. Including this forum.

 

[onedoodle3]

wow. Do they not have hardened criminals where you live? I mean, what purpose does it serve to go after a chicken owner when there are a lot of worse things going on in the communities? Makes me glad I live in out in the country. They need to educate themselves about chicken ownership.

sorry for what you're going through.

 

[flewdacoop]

RAZ i live in louisiana where we have farming laws. so not too much they can do but limit how many you can have.. but what i would do in your case is get everyone that has chickens in your area and go to the town meeting and ask for this to be brought up publicly and then i would show up with a bunch of people and give them the pros and cons of you having chickens. the more people the better, and just remember them people telling you that you cant have them work for you not the other way around. your tax dollars pay their sallery and they can be voted out just the same as anyone else.. YOU JUST HAVE TO BE LOUDER THAN THEY ARE. AND KNOW THE LAWS IN YOUR AREA OF FARMING...

 

[RaZ]

wow. Do they not have hardened criminals where you live? I mean, what purpose does it serve to go after a chicken owner when there are a lot of worse things going on in the communities? Makes me glad I live in out in the country. They need to educate themselves about chicken ownership.

sorry for what you're going through.

RAZ i live in louisiana where we have farming laws. so not too much they can do but limit how many you can have.. but what i would do in your case is get everyone that has chickens in your area and go to the town meeting and ask for this to be brought up publicly and then i would show up with a bunch of people and give them the pros and cons of you having chickens. the more people the better, and just remember them people telling you that you cant have them work for you not the other way around. your tax dollars pay their sallery and they can be voted out just the same as anyone else.. YOU JUST HAVE TO BE LOUDER THAN THEY ARE. AND KNOW THE LAWS IN YOUR AREA OF FARMING...

Please don't misconstrue my point here.
Yes, I have a civil fight with local ordinance banning chickens in my backyard. State law currently supports my right to have chickens as long as I comply with healthy practice of animal husbandry. My hens are as much pets as they are food sources. They also are treated more as pets than livestock.

The jist of my original post is that people are taking BYC forum comments and turning said comments against backyard chicken keepers. They are printing out comments and using those comments to support an anti-chicken agenda at the local level.. There are two (2) other chicken fans in my city that have received tickets just because they have supported my local fight.

What I'm trying to discover is if what I post here is it evidence that can be used against me by those who troll for information. If I post here, can I be prosecuted for sharing that information? Can I be prosecuted for saying that I have chickens on this forum?

Again, I ask the moderators if any post here can be used by outside parties for whatever reason?