We don't need hens

[SunnyAlberta]

One of the arguments against allowing backyard poultry is that we want but don't need fresh eggs daily. Do the benefits of pet hens add up?

Organic free range eggs can be purchased.

Compost can be purchased or made without our own chicken droppings.

There are other methods of controlling insects.

Help me with my group's argument to city council. Thanks.

 

[annewandering]

Educational and healthy experience for children.
Self sufficiency is always good.
Healthy choice.
Chickens make good pets.
Taking care of chickens keeps kids off the streets and teaches responsibility.
Aids seniors to have a healthy activity and makes them less dependent on others including government.
Contributes to feeling of self worth.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Whether or not we NEED fresh eggs daily, some folks CHOOSE to do so, and some physician-ordered diets require it. It should ABSOLUTELY NOT be up to local government to determine what people SHOULD or SHOULD NOT be eating. or their source for their food. The idea that local (or any) government would be making or limiting such personal choices for people is outrageous. This line of reasoning is extremely invasive and an intrusion of privacy.

 

[ladyrsanti]

One of the arguments against allowing backyard poultry is that we want but don't need fresh eggs daily. Do the benefits of pet hens add up?

Organic free range eggs can be purchased.

Compost can be purchased or made without our own chicken droppings.

There are other methods of controlling insects.

Help me with my group's argument to city council. Thanks.

Have you seen an organic free range egg farm? They're not much different than the regular egg farms. The only difference is the feed is organic and they open the cages so the chickens can "roam" in standing room only. They are required to have some windows open I believe.

Humanely raised eggs are from pastured hens that are actually allowed outside. Ask your local authorities to tour an organic free range farm and then tour a small backyard setup before they make such claims.

 

[cafarmgirl]

That is a ridiculous argument they raise! To say that you don't NEED them therefore you shouldn't be allowed to have them! Whether or not you need something doesn't matter if you WANT it. Do people NEED their noisy, irritating, barking-all-day dogs?! No, but they want them. I would really steer that argument away from whether or not people need hens because no, of course we don't NEED them. Many people have a few hens because they simply like and enjoy keeping them, eggs are just a nice plus.

 

[Wrooster]

Organic free range eggs can be purchased.

True. So to make that argument puts one at risk of sounding like he is in the pocket of the companies selling them.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

Do they NEED a cat? a dog? a TV?

 

[SunnyAlberta]

Agriculture and food production are main industries here, so city council is influenced by businesses. Thanks for your ideas. Keep them coming.

 

[ccstar]

How about 4H and the knowledge and scholarships and educatiors/vets etc these children evolve into?

 

[annewandering]

Is the council dictated to by business? If not they should not be influenced by businesses that would rather you not have chickens.