Utah!

[PacsMan]

Quote:
2 of my four EEs are laying ~almost~ 5 eggs a week. I'm about to send the other two to freezer camp.

Marty

 

[bootsuu]

Mine'll be 29 weeks old tomorrow, and only one little green egg to show for it. *grumble*

 

[Little Crooked Beak]

Is anyone else in Salt Lake worried about these new proposed changes to law regarding owning chickens?

Especially this part:

The number of chickens would be allowed on a sliding scale relating to lot size:
-- five thousand (5,000) square feet up to two (2)
-- seven thousand (7,000) square feet up to three (3)
-- eight thousand (8,000) square feet up to four (4)
-- nine thousand (9,000) square feet: up to five (5)
-- ten thousand (10,000) square feet up to six (6)
(from http://www.slcgov.com/council/announcements/FFchickens10-13-09.pdf)

I have six chickens now but some are getting older and I was hoping to get two more in the spring. According to these proposed changes, I would only be allowed 2 chicken total!

 

[Stands With A Fiddle]

I understand that the intent of the proposed ordinance is to allow more people to raise chickens. For my part, I will submit a comment that the proposed ordinance will take away rights of people on a larger lot (i.e. an acre - like me).

I'd support the proposed changes if it was done in a manner that did not effect my current rights, with my current coop, and with my current number of hens (8). In other words, keep the current law, and ad an "OR" clause if the 50 feet rule from all dwellings could not be met.

 

[Stands With A Fiddle]

I just sent this letter off to the City Council in SLC as part of their public comments.

Go to http://www.slcgov.com/council/ for a fact sheet and to submit comments.

(Thanks for emailing the link, LittleCrookedBeak!!!)

City Council --

I am concerned that the proposed ordinance will not achieve its intended effect of increasing opportunities for people to keep chickens, and will actually take away the rights of current chicken owners. I live on a lot acre, and have a fully compliant chicken coop with eight hens. This is permitted under current law, and I actually have been debating adding more hens. With the proposed changes, I would have two excess hens.

I strive to be a good neighbor and humane chicken farmer. My hens are clean, quiet, well-kept, and actually a fun little curiosity to neighborhood children.

I support the Council's intent to allow more individuals in SLC the opportunity to raise chickens. However, I am concerned that the proposed changes will actually have the unintended consequence of taking away the rights of those individuals who currently have larger flocks and live on larger lots. I urge you to re-work the proposed zoning changes with this in mind.

I also urge you to consider the situations of individuals who live on smaller lots that have been able to have legal chicken coops under the current zoning ordinances. Many of these individuals have larger flocks than would be allowed by the proposed changes. At the very least, grandfathering of larger flocks should be considered. Many people consider their chickens to be pets, and asking them to pick which chickens to part with in order to come into compliance with new ordinances would be very upsetting. Furthermore, chicken flocks have sophisticated social structures, and removal of "excess" chickens could have devastating consequences to egg production.

Respectfully,
(My full name)​

 

[Little Crooked Beak]

Thank you for doing that!

 

[PacsMan]

I also sent your email notice to some folks at the Wasatch Community Gardens. I hope that will generate some interest.

Marty

 

[Stands With A Fiddle]

One thing we could consider would be to make up flyers to post at AA Callister's and IFA. I personally don't have the time, but I would suggest that someone should take it on.

Callister's and IFA should be glad to pass that info along, since less chickens = less business for them. Just sayin'.

 

[Little Crooked Beak]

Thank you Marty and Stands With Fiddle!

I will make some fryers and put them around this weekend.

Thank so much!

 

[Stands With A Fiddle]

Quote:
FRYERS

Is that a Freudian slip?