Depot Days meets Chicken Wednesday

Gerry Houser, his daughter, myself and my wife went to Depot Days with three of his chickens to stand as representatives of an idea for urban food production. With Pamphlets saying we were "Sustainable Smyrna Initiative" we had our chickens, we had our pamphlets, and we had fun.


The kids loved the chickens, and a few even asked to pet them and for the most part our reception when we showed people the petition was good. Our petition is not official as we are not trying to get it on the next ballot, but it is to show the council that Smyrna is not against the idea as must as they feel.

Dear Mayor Dover

In recent years many cities have adopted ordinances that allow residents to keep Backyard chickens. We, the people of Smyrna, would like the same opportunity..

Currently, Section 10-102 of the Town of Smyrna Municipal Code states that “No person shall keep or allow any animal or fowl enumerated in the preceding section to come within one thousand (1,000) feet of any residence, place of business, or public street.” We think it is unreasonable that residents may own dogs and cats without distance restrictions, but not a 4-pound bird that produces eggs for the family. Residents have brought up the issue of chicken keeping in the past. Given the growing popularity of urban hen keeping and our current economic situation, this request is likely to come up again and again until the Town of Smyrna finds a way to accommodate its citizens’ request.

We propose that the Town of Smyrna adopt codes allowing the raising of chickens within the town limits. Further we would suggest the following limitations on keeping chickens.

1. No roosters are to be kept.
2. No more than 6 hens are to be kept per household.
3. No chickens are to be kept closer than 25 feet to any adjacent building.
4. That chickens be kept to Smyrna’s existing noise, noxious fumes, and sanitary animal pens.

The weather was very overcast and there was a bit of wind so turnout was lower than I had hoped we would have. I felt real bad for the lady selling scarves across the lane. She shivered in her jacket the entire day and looked simply miserable and was one of the first to call it a day and leave.

In all Gerry and I talked to about 200-220 people and out of that 145 signed the petition. Some did not sign due to bad experiences with bad neighbors, and some simply were not sure on the whole subject. In all the response from those who signed from the young to the old was "the government should just stay out of our lives" (paraphrased).

We had old people sign it who mentioned their own fond memories of their youth and raising chickens and the younger people quickly saw the sensibility of the positives of having chickens compared to the foolishness of a neighbor that can have dogs, but not chickens. Several people returned dragging other family members to sign the petition because they thought it was such a good idea.

In all I was overjoyed at the positive feedback I received from the people. It makes me feel that Nashville allowing chickens and our petition we might have a chance. The last time I went in front of the council on this issue one of the reasons they did not look at it was that no local municipality allowed chickens. I'm happy to say that is no longer true.

We have local governments allowing it, and good community feedback saying that the idea has merit. I think this is an idea whose time has come people.