ACHTUNG: The following is not a “fair and balanced” story. It is an editorial by the editor.
I experience a bad episode of cognitive dissonance during the recent series of meetings about a proposed chicken ordinance for the City of Wayland, and Tuesday’s public hearing probably will make it even worse.
I hear tell there is a lot opposition to allowing local urban farmers to raise chickens in their back yards. I have come to acknowledge and understand their reasons. Chickens indeed can spread diseases, cause unsanitary conditions and make unwanted noise. Yet I’ve seen examples to the contrary.
My son, Robby, a 2003 Wayland High School graduate, and his wife and two dogs have welcomed four chickens to their back yard in Colorado Springs, a city with about as much population as Grand Rapids. They suffered a setback last winter when neighboring dogs broke into their property and killed three of the animals. Yet they had them replaced almost immediately.
Robby and wife Sarah have grown attached to the birds, giving them colorful names, and they are enjoying the quality of the eggs they lay. They insist this kind of urban farming can work as long as the owners take care to do the right things, just like with other pets.
Another example involves a confession. Until about a year and a half ago, I often walked past a house within the city limits that had a chicken coop and birds in the back yard. I could see them as I walked by, and I wondered why the homeowners hadn’t been turned in for violating local laws.
I surmise that neighbors actually had no complaints about noise or nuisances, so they weren’t interested in busting the chicken owners and declined to go to local authorities.
Do not misunderstand me. I’m not coming out in favor of an ordinance to permit the keeping of chickens in the City of Wayland. But I have to say there is another side to this issue that hasn’t been blessed with a lot of air time or public attention.
I look forward to the hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday night the middle school and to next month’s presentation on the “pro” side.
Chickens are fun if you handle them from chicks. No roosters though, to wake me up! Why doesn’t the police enforce the parking on streets law? Don’t get it…..
Really, the Council is taking an excessive amount of time on this subject and they are beating it into the ground. Dont they have more pressing issues to figure out?
I have the solution; if you want chickens, ducks, geese, or any other kind of livestock – BUY A FARM!
The Council needs to move on and quit this idiocy.
They are amazing at controlling ticks and other bugs! My dogs appreciate them! They also produce narural fertilizer for your garden in addition to their delicious eggs! I don’t think you need to live on a farm to have chickens, but agree some restrictions are necessary such as how many chicken are allowed per lot size etc…
While Colorado Springs allows up to ten chickens, roosters are not allowed. Here’s their ordinance: “Property owners are allowed to keep up to ten (10) rabbits or chickens aged six months or older. Roosters are, however, prohibited. Shelters for rabbits or chickens must contain at least four (4) square feet for each rabbit or chicken and must meet all other applicable zoning and building codes and regulations.” Minor point, but,,, I lived in Colorado Springs for over 40 years. The 2016 population of the Springs was 465,101, the 2016 population of GR was 196,445.