Inside the Newsroom @ Chelsea, Dexter

The official blog for The Chelsea Standard and Dexter Leader


Wednesday, February 8, 2012

The great chicken debate


Is it enough to have farm fresh eggs at your disposal? Should people in a small yard be allowed to own chickens? Is a chicken a pet?
While off the cuff, the issue of owning a chicken might not seem like a big deal, it's one that many municipalities have been wrestling with considering the rise of the local food movement.
I recently delved into this topic for a story in this week's Standard after a family was told to get rid of their chickens. They kept the five hens in their backyard, just a few blocks off Main Street, despite the fact that the city bans them – per a city ordinance – in yards less than 4 acres in size.
Proponents of keeping backyard chickens, including Chelsea Backyard Chickens, say that chickens are clean, quiet and much like having a pet dog or cat. The added bonus is that, unlike a house cat, families get fresh eggs from a chicken whose diet they can control.
The group has met with Chelsea City Council for two work sessions after member Chris Felesky spoke during a public comment session several months ago.
In that time, various Council members have discussed what potential problems could come with legalizing backyard chickens – including neighbor complaints and what the justification for allowing chickens might be versus not allowing other animals. In addition, Councilmember Rod Anderson wondered whether property values would be affected and what evidence might be available.
In addition there is the argument that fresh, grain-fed, range-free chicken eggs are readily available in Chelsea as it's in an agricultural area.
So, what do you think? How would Chelsea be affected by legalized backyard chickens?

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