Hi, I have a query about fostering sustainable behaviors in a very specific group of people, a city council, and then a larger group (the general populace).
I'm involved in an effort to get the City of Salem, Oregon, to allow people in single family homes to have up to five laying hens for egg production. There are tons of good sustainability reasons for this, as Portland, OR; Eugene, OR; Madison, WI; Ann Arbor, MI; and other cities have realized.
Is there any research or experience out there on how you can take the fear of chickens (hens, more precisely) away from city council members and their constituents? We're citing all the cities where chickens have been allowed without big problems, but the council members keep imagining horrible conflicts with neighbors, bad smells, old cars and trailers used as coops, etc.
(Oddly, the city will allow you to keep a pot-bellied pig of up to 100 lbs., but not chickens! I guess it's easier to get approval for an animal when it's the chic craze pet of the jet set, while chickens are seen as declasse.)
John Gear
United States
http://lovesalem.blogspot.com/
De-Scarifying Urban Chickens
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The City of Cleveland just today (!!) legalized urban chickens. Councilman Joe Cimperman introduced the legislation and the Ohio State University agricultural extension oficer here has been working hard to get public support. I know there has been some fear, but also lots of excitement. Both of them might be willing to discuss their experience.
Today's news article is here: http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1233653414210720.xml&coll=2
Good luck!
Toni Thayer
Preterm
United States
Marianne and Toni, thanks so much for the leads -- I'm sending the stories around in our group. I love the "Give Peeps a Chance" slogan!
And, yes, a cute kid as a pro-chicken face would be a real asset to the campaign.
John Gear
United States
http://lovesalem.blogspot.com/
John;
The city council in Battle Ground, WA visited this issue in December. I believe the thinking was that this formerly rural area that was becoming "citified" needed to preempt any potential problems that keeping small animals on city lots might bring (smells, noise, etc.) However, so many people testified in support of allowing homeowners to keep chickens, rabbits, and small goats for food on their city lots that the rules were left alone and no further action is planned. The county Food Security Council and several gardening and farm supporters testified, stressing the need for public policies supporting local food security and affordable food, and allowing residents to grow as much of their own food as possible.
Theresa Cross
MS RD CD
Clark County Public Health
United States
Have you considred muscovy ducks as opposed to chickens? They're less smelly, less noisy, and easier to keep. Eggs are edible much like chickens. Obviously they need to be caged to avoid problems with them going ferral...they're all over down here. But that may be an easier sell than chickens in the city.
j mcgee
Chief Environmental Scientist
Hillsborough County Specialized Services
United States
Hi John,
I have read your chicken info request from back in Februaryhow did you go with your council? I live in Sydney, Australia. Our local councils allow chickens here, but not roosters because they are too noisy. We have three chickens ourselves. You can check out a website www.rentachook.com.au which is where we got our chooks. It has lots of information about keeping chooks in urban locations. Dave the Chook man is completely run off his feet, he is going gangbusters and cant keep up with the demand.
Something which may appeal to your council is the ability for chickens to reduce organic waste from council waste flow. Since getting chickens, my organic waste is almost zero (the only thing I wont feed them is chicken meat leftovers, I am worried about mad chicken disease!!!). They eat anything, and in fact I get greens from the local greengrocers bins, also reducing their waste.
I am really convinced of the usefulness of keeping chooks in teaching my urban children to care for animals, and to connect them with where their food comes from.
You could make an argument about food security. Eggs provide a great localised source of protein.
I hope that helps!
Cheers,
Andrea Koch
Sustainability Consultant
Australia
I have never heard the word 'chook" before. Is it Aussie for "chick" as in young chicken?
Mel Tremper
United States
*laughs!*
'Rent-a-chook'!! this is both a very funny and very clever/entrepreneurial 21st century idea!! thanks so much for sharing this idea!
To Mel, yes 'chook' is Australian slang for a chicken...is the term 'cackleberries' for eggs used in the US?
Sharon Ede
Australia
Mel,
"Chook" is Aussie slang for chicken, as in chickens in the coop which lay eggs for you! I cringe as I write this, but an old humourous slang saying that apparently used to be said in yester-year was "I hope your chooks turn into emus and kick your dunny door down"! It means "I hope your chickens turn into emus (large Australian flightless birds somewhat like ostriches) and kick your outdoor, long drop toilet door down"!
Now you know some more Australian slang!
Cheers,
Andrea
Andrea Koch
Sustainability Consultant
Australia
"cackleberries" is not a term I have ever heard used for eggs.
Mel Tremper
United States
Hi John,
There are a number of towns and cities in Maine that have decided to allow the keeping of chickens. Recently a 10 year old got the City of South Portland to change its regulations. Here is a link to an article:
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=132313&ac=PHnws
and a link to the family's website:
http://www.sailzora.com/SoPoChickens.htm
And if you Google 'south portland maine chickens" you will get a number of other links to stories.
Maybe you need to recruit a 10 year old! ;-)
Best of luck,
Marianne DuBois
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
UnitedStates
www.maine.gov/dep