[RP TownTalk] Poultry

[Regina Kreger]

It might be a matter of restricting the NUMBER of chickens that could be 
kept in any one back yard, or other reasonable controls.  I mean, 
honestly, I don't think anyone wants to set up one of the Delmarva-style 
chicken factories, those things are horrible.  Just a few laying hens in 
a back yard, maybe a half dozen max.  And actually, our town code does 
have reasonable provisions, it's just that county zoning seems to trump 
them.  Is that just because our provisions are negative and not 
positive?  (i.e., we say what is prohibited, not what is allowed).  Or 
would county zoning trump us anyway?

Urban chickens are becoming a trend around the country.  Sort of the 
next step to the farmer's markets trend, grow your own, eat even MORE 
local.  See http://urbanchickens.org/ , 
http://home.centurytel.net/thecitychicken/index.html , 
http://www.backyardchickens.com/ . 

 From our town code:

§ 10-1. Definitions.
"Public nuisance animal" -- Any animal which is repeatedly found at 
large; makes excessive, continual, or untimely barking, howling, 
whining, crowing, or any other disturbing noise; molests passersby; 
chases vehicles; causes fouling of air by odors; causes unsanitary 
condition of enclosures or surroundings by virtue of the number of 
animals maintained and is offensive or dangerous to the public health; 
excretes on
property other than that of the owner; or is the cause of excretory 
matter being dropped on the ground or floor, feed left lying about, 
and/or housing materials which afford food, harborage, or a breeding 
place for rats.
§ 10-4. Penalties for public nuisance animals. [Revised 3-6-95, Amended 
9-8-98.]
(a) It shall be unlawful for any owner or custodian to fail to provide 
effective care and control of his animals to prevent them from becoming 
a public nuisance.
(b) Upon receiving a written or oral complaint and after an 
investigation, the town code enforcement officer and/or the police 
department shall declare an animal to be a public nuisance and shall 
serve the owner with a notice of violation of this ordinance, and unless 
the nuisance is removed or abated within ten (10) days, the owner shall 
be deemed guilty of a municipal infraction.

§ 50-7. Stables, barns and poultry houses. [Adopted 1-20-54 as former § 
54-10.]
No person shall keep any poultry, cattle, live stock or other animal in 
such manner that the filth or stench therefrom may become offensive or 
that may endanger health.


Cranky old Coot wrote:
> <div class="moz-text-flowed" style="font-family: -moz-fixed">Sarah 
> Wayland wrote, On 2/22/2009 10:25 AM:
>>>>  It is county zoning code that prohibits them {foul}.
>>>>       
>>> Which is as it should be.
>>>     
>>
>> You know, I kind of like the chickens and turkeys that live down the
>> street from my parents. They are really beautiful, and they are quiet.
>>   
> We obviously have different childhood memories.  The folks that lived 
> next door to my grandparents had chickens. = I see the difference, 
> _/Next/_/ door/ vis _/Down/_/ the street/ = These were big 50' city 
> lots. The neighbors were rich they had 3 lots, big  house, big flower 
> garden. Behind the barn that had been for horse and carriage, they 
> keep chickens. When I was 4-5 years old we lived with my grandparents. 
> Because of the smell I never played on the swing set in the backyard.
>
> Perhaps the dry Albuquerque climate helps control the aromatic 
> characteristics of the natural soil enhancements.
>
> COC
>
>
> </div>
>