Chickens!

[Bigbux Stogeychomper]

What's all this crap I'm hearing about Lexington allowing chickens in town? Is this looney bin about to go even loonier?

A city like Lexington is no place for chickens for crissake. If you want to live in a barnyard, go buy yourself a barnyard and stay out of my town! We have never had chickens here. It's a civilized place, mostly, and this is no time to start. Regardless of how many granola-crunching, sandal-wearing women with hairy legs and armpits scream at us!

[Amy Probenski]

Maybe I agree with Crux, an amazing thing to say. Bigbux sounds way wrong and this article in the local paper sounds pretty bad too.

Council Gets Another Perspective On Chickens

Chickens in the city was to be the topic at a work session of Lexington City Council last night.

Council has listened to the views of a steady stream of citizens during the past several months, mostly proponents of a change in the city ordinance to allow resident to keep limited number of hens in residential areas. Last week, city resident John Morman offered a slightly different perspective on the issue.

Morman reiterated some of the reasons given by supporters of having chickens in the city ― fresh eggs, organic manure and teaching children responsibility. However, he went on to note that these arguments could also be made by supporters of other urban livestock, such as goats, alpacas or ducks. Where do you draw the line for domesticated livestock, Morman asked.

Morman also had a long list of considerations about the added responsibility of owning chickens. He pointed out the careful monitoring needed for young chicks, other parasite problems that might spread to other animals and birdlife, predators attracted by chickens ranging from foxes to the neighbor’s cats and the difficulties resulting from keeping chickens in confinement such as anti-social behaviors including plucking their companions and even cannibalism.

“So we’re left with a decision which comes down to whether or not the city decides to cater to a small group who wants something simply because they want it, and based largely upon arguments that can apply equally to a number of species; or Council sides with a group of citizens – I don’t know whether larger or smaller – who simply don’t want it based upon their own opinions,” Morman said.

In either case, Council faces a difficult decision, he concluded.

Seems to me councils should ban things only for good and objective reasons, not just because they don't personally like something. For example, any councilman who doesn't much like dogs and children and bicycles is a bad councilman if his narrow prejudice leads him to ban them. I've lived with hens in several towns. They, and their fresh eggs, are wonderful.

[coondog]

John Mormon has a good point.

Anti-social chickens are liable to cause all manner of trouble. You can identify them, however, by their refusal to engage in hen parties and their tendency to stockpile ammunition bought on the web.

John, though, needs to understand the difference between a chicken and an alpaca. We're talking chickens. That's where the line is drawn.

BigBux needs to learn the difference between male and female chickens. Roosters crow. Hens peck, lay eggs and gossip!

Coondog

Egg suckin' dawg

[Wise One]

Here is more on hens in Lexington ... it sounds like a fine thing to me. It allows for local food production and I love hens.
We used to have them in Lexington, before white-bread suburban prejudices descended over the land and they were banned.
Thank goodness towns across the country are correcting this stupidity and allowing people to have fresh eggs again.
It looks like mere bigotry motivates Lera and Harvey-Halseth ... they know the result ("No!") and will grasp at any straw supporting their already-determined vote.
Wouldn't a 25-foot setback basically rule out all properties in Lexington? Try applying this inane rule to dogs, cats, etc.!

Council To Take Up Chickens In Fall
Public Hearing On Proposal Postponed Until October

Advocates of keeping chickens within the city of Lexington will soon be making their third attempt in five years to receive that right.

City Council is expected to hold a public hearing sometime in October on a proposed ordinance to allow up to six hens to be kept in backyard chicken coops under conditions set forth in the proposed law.

A public hearing and vote on the issue had to be postponed until that date in order to find a time that all Council members will be present.

Council did hold a work session last week to discuss the proposed ordinance. Provisions of the ordinance include that eggs may not be sold commercially and that no slaughtering of birds should occur. Pens must be at least 25 feet from property lines and at least 10 feet from any adjacent structure on the homeowner’s property. The enclosure must be a secure mesh-covered structure, not made of scrap materials and in good condition. Manure must be appropriately composted or removed from the property by the owner. Dead chickens are to be disposed of appropriately, such as at the landfill. Any odors detected by neighbors will be considered a violation of the ordinance by the chicken owner.

And finally ― no roosters.

The first violation of the ordinance will be a Class 3 misdemeanor and subsequent violations will be Class 2 misdemeanors.

Of chief concern to Council members was the cost to the city of enforcing the regulations set forth in the new ordinance and whether the overwhelming majority of the city’s residents who will not have chickens should pay the associated costs for the estimated 5 percent of the population who want chickens.

An annual fee of $25 has been suggested for the license to have chickens. The new ordinance requires prospective chicken owners to provide a sketch showing the area where the pen will be located along with their application. An onsite inspection is then required by the animal control officer.

The ordinance also calls for the animal control officer to make periodic inspections of the chicken coops to make sure regulations set forth in the ordinance are being followed, such as correct handling of manure, the maintenance of the chicken coop and whether portable pens are being moved regularly as required.

Councilwoman Mary Harvey-Halseth pointed out that although an annual license fee for a dog is $10, the suggested fee for as many as six hens is $25.

Mayor Mimi Elrod expressed concern about the annual fee being excessive for people who are interested in raising their own food. However, Councilman Bob Lera said that if residents can afford the approximate $1,000 startup costs to construct an appropriate chicken coop, they could certainly afford a higher annual fee than $25.

Councilwoman Marylin Alexander also said she believes low-income families will probably not participate in the program.

Lera also proposed other changes to the ordinance. He said chickens should not be allowed on any property adjacent to an existing bed and breakfast. He pointed out that bed and breakfasts contribute some $200,000 annually in transient occupancy taxes, and bed and breakfast owners have indicated that having chickens next door could hurt their businesses.

Lera suggested as well that all chicken coops be limited to backyards.

Finally, health concerns were a topic of discussion. Harvey-Halseth said provisions should be included for mandatory disposal of chickens if an outbreak of salmonella or avian flu should occur.

City Manager Jon Ellestad noted that the Virginia Department of Health tracks such incidents and the VDH authority would supersede the city’s authority.

[Juggler]

How times change. Hens used to be a patriotic duty, now they are unjustly insulted outcasts.

If she sees a hen, Mary Harvey-Halseth will shriek and leap backward in terror. She'll hold a cross high, load her revolver with a silver bullet, and attempt to drive a wooden stake through the poor bird's heart. A shivering Bob Lera will hide behind Mary's back.

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[coondog]

Whats next? Photo ID of every chicken?

What about parakeets? We gonna license, regulate & inspect them, too?

Between Mimi and Mary, it looks like four more years of inane pecking and scratching at the Mayoral level no matter who wins.

Coondog

Must Coondog run for Mayor? One grown up in City Government might help. But, then, what would the News Gazette have to Editorialize about? Dog parks.....Bicycle lanes....Water slides?

[nudgewink]

Here is a very nice editorial in the News-Gazette. I hope the City Council will heed its counsel !

Give Backyard Chickens A Try

Lexington, traditionally regarded as a progressive city in its policies and practices, has lagged in one conspicuous category – its failure to fully embrace the locally grown agricultural movement.

Twice in the past seven years, Lexington City Council has rejected the notion of allowing micro-flocks of egg-laying hens within the city limits. Lexington is alone among the three local jurisdictions in forbidding residential dwellers from raising their own chickens.

Last year, proponents of the practice were able to convince the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors to amend the county’s zoning regulations to allow the keeping of up to six hens in residential neighborhoods, under carefully controlled conditions. Minimum lot sizes and setbacks are specified, as are pen, coop and cleanliness requirements.

Despite their two previous setbacks, city chick supporters have set their sights once again on Lexington. With dozens of cities and towns across Virginia having put out the welcome mat for residential chickens, proponents are again pressing Lexington to get on board.

Arguments are numerous in favor of allowing city residents to raise their own egg-laying hens. There are advantages to knowing where your food comes from. The risk of illness from contamination is less, chemical additives aren’t introduced and younger family members get an education in how the food chain works.

Those who regularly consume eggs of free-range home hens say they’re much tastier than those that come from their caged counterparts in large industrial- agricultural operations. They swear they’ll never again settle for the eggs found at most supermarkets.

We agree with proponents that Lexington City Council should reconsider its earlier stance on this issue. A proposed new ordinance includes carefully crafted conditions to ensure that micro-flocks are kept in appropriately constructed enclosures of a certain size and distance from neighboring properties. Provisions have to be made for ensuring the cleanliness of the coops.

We readily acknowledge that those who keep micro-flocks of home hens have a special responsibility to their neighbors to abide by the rules and not create a public nuisance or health hazard. If the practice were to create too many problems, City Council could revisit the issue and decide to disallow it.

We do caution Council against adopting regulations that are unduly onerous or from imposing hefty annual fees. The objective is to welcome a healthful practice into the city that will enhance the locally grown movement.

We think the idea is worth pursuing. The city ought to adopt reasonable regulations and see how it works.

Home hen practitioners will be the healthier for it, and they’ll be setting an example for people who believe in humane conditions for poultry. The practice also provides invaluable lessons for children as well as the community as a whole.

Adopting such an ordinance would allow Lexington to reassert its position at the forefront of progressive policies.

And Juggler, you are hilarious ... you nailed Mary and Bob !! Can they ever be moved from seemingly rigid positions?

If she sees a hen, Mary Harvey-Halseth will shriek and leap backward in terror. She'll hold a cross high, load her revolver with a silver bullet, and attempt to drive a wooden stake through the poor bird's heart. A shivering Bob Lera will hide behind Mary's back.

[crux]

Chickens in the City. Sure. Stars and Bars? Surely one day in the year? You don't win them all when folks just disagree.

The first Rural Charter School in Virginia? Obviously. Liberty Chickens and Charter Schools oh my. Liberty.

Libewrty is at stake.

Why is it so difficult?


crux

[coondog]

I would not have imagined that I would agree with you so comletely on any combination of thoughts.

I have no desire to raise chickens, don't know that much about charter schools and mostly only view the stars and bars as an historical enhancement to tourism.........our local governments are way too keen on finding ways to dissalow things than on finding viable solutions to sensible ideas.

Then again, they'll ride a bad idea all the way to the finish line!

Coondog

Finding a small patch of common ground here!

[Amy Probenski]

So when is the Lexington City Council going to take up the issue of hens in town again?

I think it's a fine idea and can remember when it used to be allowed, before folks got too damn touchy about nearly everything that looks like real life.

This time lets let the Council know that reasonable people support the idea, and that getting back to normal does NOT mean that we have to load up an ordinance with all kinds of complications and fees. It just is not that hard and hens can be perfectly good citizens.

[Chickens4Lexington]

Amy asks when a Lexington public hearing on the chicken issue will be held...tentative schedule is for October or later, after the draft ordinance is refined and city council members can all be present again. Seems like certain people are making a mountain out of a molehill. So many cities have adopted ordinances already, including Ronoake, Annapolis, Fredericksburg, Charlottesville and hundreds of others across the US. Lexington is behind the times. Just because we have an interesting heritage in this city doesn't mean that we should permanently focus on the past instead of recognizing new ideas, trends and ecological realities. Come on, Lexington! A few hens (not roosters) enhance the local food movement, teach people ecological principals, and can be managed sensibly and humanely without bothering neighbors.

[Amy Probenski]

Thanks, Chick !
I'll be there to indicate my support.
Now I've been hearing that the Council is hostile to input that contradicts its preconceived opinions on hens.
Is that right? That would be an absolutely terrible position for elected officials to take, completely undemocratic.

[Chickens4Lexington]

As with any group of more than 2 people, there are many opinions on city council. Some are "for" and some are "against," for various reasons. We hope that enough townspeople will express support for the notion that a few chickens will not do any damage to Lexington, and that enough facts can work their way into council members' heads so that there will be enough votes to pass a sensible ordinance.
It would be great if the most recent posts could be at the top of the discussion, rather than the bottom.

[stonewall]

Note to Chickens4Lexington, et al.: The annoying default order of message listings is in the order they were posted, that is, newest last, forcing the user has to scroll to the end of all the messages under a topic.

You can easily reverse the order of listing so that the newest messages always appear first, by doing the following:

• Click This and then
• Select "Descending" for both "Display post order direction" and "Display topic order direction"and then "Submit"
• From then on, the listings will have the most recent postings at the top.

[stonewall]

Hey Stonewall. You volunteered an assist HERE, but I still wonder how "the wise one" is able to get his "list of tragic shootings" into a LAST AS POSTED position on the BANG! thread. I would like to know how he did that.

I might like to make a list of say, urban areas that have approved chickens in city limits, or something, and have it appear last. Do I have to make a list on a thread I CREATED?? Thanks for addressing this. I will look for your response on the BANG! thread.

This is not the appropriate place perhaps. Maybe you missed my query there?? I will await your answer... Thanks.

I'm scratching my head over this one. I don't really know but it's possible I spied duplicate postings and deleted the older one. Naturally, I discourage multiple postings; maybe I should start deleting the newer of duplicates to discourage that behavior.

[crux]

Hey thanks. Let me explain. AO has a thread BANG! He has a "witty" list of examples in the news of tragic shootings. Somehow it always appears as the NEWEST post, updated with his latest witty bias filled sarcastic headline. I just wanted to know HOW he is able to get that to appear as the last post?

Thanks. I don't know anything about duplicate posts.

c

[coondog]

Yo! Stonewall!

While you're occupying this quarter of the universe, I'd like to bring to your attention that one must be logged in in order for the personal preferences like 'descending order' become manifest.

Of late, the Coondog finds it necessary to log in upon every visit, in spite of the fact that I request to be remembered.

C'mon man! I'm not THAT forgetable.

It's a small matter.......yet, somewhat annoying.

CD

And.......how about some more Smilies?

[stonewall]

Thank you for that observation. I agree that the default setting for the order of postings absolutely sucks and have made several runs at changing the default, so far without success.

Maybe it's time to try again. A good place to start would be an upgrade to the current software version ... we are one version behind at the moment. Stay tuned.

[coondog]

In response to the recent 'unrest' in the Middle East, it is reported that Kentucky Fried Chicken has closed all of it's outlets in Pakistan.

Aside from all out nuclear obliteration, this, to me, is the most effective form of retaliation inaginable for Middle Eastern mischief. All US companies should begin to deprive these rebelous countries of all of the sodas and fast foods we have gotten them addicted to in recent years. Give em' a good old fashioned Yankee Time Out.

Maybe when they've had to go back to eating goat burgers, with one hand instead of two, like they had to do for thousands of years, they'll remember why, deep in their hearts, they really do love America!

Coondog

No 'finger linckin' for you, Mufti, until you learn to act right in public!

[crux]

All US companies should begin to deprive these rebellious countries of all of the sodas and fast foods we have gotten them addicted to in recent years.

-and again here:

Maybe when they've had to go back to eating goat burgers, with one hand instead of two, like they had to do for thousands of years, they'll remember why, deep in their hearts, they really do love America!

I can almost hear it... "America Bad"

"Consyrupfucious say always seek to be the victor, by donning the Armour of Victim Mentality, and arming one's self, with the Master's Whip of Elitist Condescension."

Have a great week end. I think a long road trip is upon me... T'dog? woof Sam? peace
Fangz? vote third party

AO? stop being such a tard Neck? Amy? all the best
and Stonewall a thankless job (don't worry yourself so) Juggler?
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Looking forward but not in the way of Obama

-crux