Chicken Wednesday - Sort of

A few articles from the last couple of days to attempt to show that backyard chickens are a viable and growing movement in America...just not here in Smyrna.

In Georgia the state is attempting to bypass resistant and stuck in the mud local governments and allowing sensible backyard agriculture.

The bill would allow homeowners to have chickens, milk goats and rabbits -- as well as sizable fruit and vegetable gardens -- so long as the goal would be to feed their families.

Local governments wouldn’t have much room to object, unless they have complaints about things like noise or odor that they're willing to take to court. Subdivision covenants would still apply, said Rep. Bobby Franklin (R-Marietta), sponsor of the “Georgia Right to Grow” bill.

Of course the locals are upset...local governments that is.

Officials representing cities and counties -- including Atlanta -- told members of the House Agriculture Committee that the bill would usurp local control.

“These decisions are best made locally,” said Tom Gehl, deputy director of governmental relations for the Georgia Municipal Association.

'best made locally' means local governments can look at the issue and quickly dismiss it like Smyrna did.

In North Carolina they are using the backyard chicken coops as an educational tool.

Chicken owners in Raleigh will open their coops on Saturday, May 15, for the fifth annual Hen-side the Beltline Tour d'Coop event to benefit Urban Ministries.

Participants will allow people into their backyards to view how they keep chickens in an urban environment.

In previous years, chicken owners have said they raise the animals to teach children where food comes from. Others have said they keep chickens because “chicken manure makes great compost” or because they want "to live a more sustainable life," according to the event’s Web site.

Our education is "this is how a government says 'no'".

In South Carolina they are struggling through the process of writing the laws.

A proposal to allow chicken keeping in Columbia is moving forward, but not without obstacles.

At a March 3 meeting, Columbia City Council gave initial approval to an ordinance that would allow up to four hens per household. However, some council members still want more detail in the law about how coops are built, fearing people won’t build safe, tidy enclosures for their birds — or, as the official March 3 motion puts it, “to ensure proper security and aesthetics.”

Council will also consider mandatory training for those who want to keep chickens.

I have to laugh. You need no training to bring a kid into this world, but a few chickens and they demand regulations and training...I'm in awe at the government mind set.

In Oregon the politicians have asked the people their views.

The debate has been hashed over in several Willamette Valley municipalities of late: Do we allow or not allow chickens?

Independence is bringing it to residents — or at least bringing the decision whether to debate the ordinance.

Residents have been asked to weigh in with their thoughts via utility bills or through an e-mail response.

"The city has sent out a ballot to the residents asking if the city council should consider changing the current development code to allow chickens in the city," said City of Independence Deputy City Recorder / Management Assistant Amanda Rice.

Of course the wording could say everything. The petition I will submit to the council was signed by most who when faced by the simple line "my neighbor can have three big hulking dogs that bark...why can I not have 5-6 chickens?" and as they looked at the chickens right in front of them being very quiet and happy the reality is that there was no real problem.

Pardon my high level of snark and sarcasm, but some days I should not address issues that deal with bureaucracies.