Wyoming MI joins the fray

[curliet]

My town, Wyoming MI, is now entering the chicken wars.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/12/wyoming_family_fights_to_keep.html

I find those comments at the end of the article really interesting. Hard to believe how ignorant some people are, and how reluctant they are to learn about the topic that they are discussing.

 

[Amyable]

In a semi-rural subdivision, who in the world would complain about 3 hens??? Some folks really need to mind their own business. Hopefully the family can get an ordinance change to allow backyard flocks.

 

[AZKat]

I really hope they can get the ordinance changed. Someone who says they are a neighbor of the family posted in the comments section, apparently this is the latest in a ongoing fight between this family and one of their neighbors. The comments were mostly pro-chicken and supportive of the family, which was nice to see. I had to laugh at the person who claimed that they got lice from their neighbor's chickens. That'd be a neat trick, since lice don't cross species like that.

 

[daisy_dukers]

I think that if they have to lose thier chickens due to the annoying neighbour they should plant some of the fastest growing shade trees possible on thier side of the property. Strategically placed they just might be able to ruin her roses and make her learn how to garden in the shade. The meth comment she made was absolutely over the top.

Call me vendictive, but I would also probably sprinkle a kg or 2 of table salt on her raised beds in the winter....

Sometimes Karma needs a bump in the right direction..

 

[michickenwrangler]

Maybe someone should try to recruit them to the BYC

That one commentator about "avian flu" said he had never heard of "Rabbit flu", apparently he hasn't heard that tularemia is a disease that rabbits can pass onto people.

The Grand Rapids area is one of the more politically conservative areas of the state. My father was a physcian in Detroit/Ypsilanti for years and recently got a position where he has to work in GR two days a week and he has commented about how conservative they are (PM me for more info as it involves some controversial topics). Ann Arbor/Ypsi/Saline are a little more liberal and allow chickens. GR area/Wyoming may not be as open minded about it

Good luck to them!

 

[mightieskeeper]

On the outside of grand rapids is nothing but cow farms. They need to use the right to farm act, start selling eggs. Good Luck

 

[LizFM]

Quote:
Semi-rural subdivisions are exactly the kind of places that are most adamant about not having "mud and flies and smell"...in their vision of "wanting to live in the country." Otherwise they wouldn't buy in a subdivision.

My father-in-law who's still commercial farming in rural Kansas, is dealing with a "neighbor" who bought land and built a new house near one of his fields, and calls up and complains every time he spreads manure or the machinery is out in the field late at night and "keeping her up."

Bad enough when towns banned the keeping of small livestock for the "quality of life" of their residents...worse yet when they take that attitude out to the actual farm country and start wanting to ban it there.

The problem is that the political power and money are all on the side of "town people" like that and people who share their attitudes. The whole US needs a "right to farm" law!

 

[Wifezilla]

That one commentator about "avian flu" said he had never heard of "Rabbit flu", apparently he hasn't heard that tularemia is a disease that rabbits can pass onto people.

Maybe we need to make a list of all the diseases a person could catch from their pets. This whole issue of birds being these disease balls while dogs and cats fart sunshine and rainbows really gets on my nerves.​

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Well, let's see; all mammals are subject to rabies; chickens are not. All of them can carry pasturella--most cats actually do, and it is not uncommon with dogs.

 

[Wifezilla]

Toxoplasmosis (sp?) from cats...
There is a dog in NY with swine flu.
I remember having to get rid of a pet turtle due to salmenella (sp?) in the 70's.