How to Get an Ordinance for Backyard Chickens

One of the disadvantages of our increasingly urbanized society is our disconnectedness from nature. The farm and field are considered separate, alien, even primitive. Concrete is rapidly replacing prairies, a walk in the woods is a novelty, and the sight and sound of chickens scratching in the dirt has been forgotten. Or not. Madison, Wisconsin is part of the increasing number of cities around the country that have passed ordinances allowing people to keep backyard chickens. If you are interested in keeping backyard chickens but your city doesn't allow it, or has no ordinance regarding backyard poultry whatsoever, there are things you can do to change the law. And if trying to get an ordinance passed for backyard chickens seems impossible, and you have no idea where to start, know that there are things you can do. Here are some tips for getting started. Tip one: start small Before marching right to the city council building, try talking to neighbors about your plans. If people are skeptical or critical of the idea of chickens, this is an opportunity to educate them and peacefully resolve any conflicts that could arise later. In Madison, Alicia Rheal and Bryan Whiting, key figures in the city's backyard chicken movement, addressed their neighborhood organization and wrote an article for the neighborhood newspaper. Most neighborhoods have organizations and councils, so at the next neighborhood meeting, bring up your plans for backyard chickens. Again, this gives you a chance to get feedback from others and to answer questions.

Tip two: organize the movement

Be as organized as possible. There will be city officials who have never heard of a backyard chicken ordinance, so it's up to you to do the research and gather the facts. Although Alicia Rheal contacted former Madison alderman Matt Sloan, who was supportive of the movement, it was the city residents who did most of the organization and research. It doesn't hurt to contact city officials to see what their opinions are, but know that you and other city residents will be doing most of the work. Working with others is key for getting results, so get together and start brainstorming! Start a blog to keep in touch and hold meetings with others city residents who are interested in obtaining a backyard chicken ordinance. Think about what you need to do to present a strong argument for backyard chickens to city officials. Is your city more conservative or liberal? Do you have a sense of what city residents in general would think of backyard chickens? What might the city council think of this? Consider these questions to determine the best way to present this movement to your city.

Tip three: do your research

The research you do will keep your backyard chicken movement afloat. Find out everything you can about raising domestic chickens in cities. Research information about questions and concerns people may have in relation to chickens and disease, noise, and smell. For example, hens are generally quiet, whereas roosters are boisterous and noisy, and a chicken coop that is kept clean and tidy will not be a hotbed for disease and avian bird flu - but not everyone knows that!

Residents from Madison had the right idea; they got in contact with the University of Wisconsin-Madison health department and met with Mark Cook of the UW poultry extension. Cook was supportive of the backyard chicken movement and even wrote a letter to the city, sharing his expertise on domestic poultry. Even if you don't have the support of an expert in the field, find knowledgeable people to talk with and get the facts from them. The more information you can get from experts and trusted sources, the stronger your argument will be. This will be useful when you are presenting your request to the city.

Tip four: educate and address

Educating the public about backyard chickens is a smart way to gain support, or at least dispel preconceptions people may have about having backyard chickens. People may be opposed to backyard chickens purely from ignorance, or from negative past experiences. Hold a public meeting about backyard chickens for people to come and learn, or write an article for a local paper with the "myths and facts" of urban poultry. In addition to teaching citizens about backyard chickens, it is also helpful to educate city officials. You can put together all your research into an organized portfolio, or write a detailed report and send it to the city government. Take the opportunity to go to city council meetings and other local government events that city residents can attend and present causes to the mayor, alderpersons or councilpersons. This makes lawmakers aware of your serious determination to pursue your cause.

Tip five: be respectful

This goes hand-in-hand with tip four. Be respectful when presenting your case at all times, be it to the neighbors at the neighborhood meeting or the mayor at the city council meeting. "A lot has to do with attitude," says Alicia Rheal, the Madison advocate for backyard chickens. Having a positive attitude will inspire people to be more enthusiastic about supporting your backyard chicken movement.

Being realistic is also important. Though the city officials will be the ones who write up the official ordinance, you can brainstorm possible ordinance logistics with other people involved in the chicken movement. But keep it within reason. If you go to the city council and suggest an ordinance allowing up to eight chickens per home, lawmakers will be skeptical and less likely to even consider an ordinance. Establish ground rules that won't cause too much controversy. Keep your backyard chicken proposal within three to five chickens per backyard, and absolutely no roosters or slaughtering in the city.

Tip six: don't give up

Your quest for a backyard chicken ordinance may be more or less challenging depending on your city. Pre-existing laws for backyard poultry vary, as do the viewpoints of lawmakers. Once you have done all your research, organizing, and educating, it's up to the city officials to make the final decision. Perhaps luck is involved as well. Being "in the right place at the right time" may just work in your favor. Be prepared to persevere. If the city whips up an ordinance and than votes against it, you'll probably feel disappointed. Keep in mind that if the city turns it down once, you can analyze the situation and try again. Make it known that you aren't going to give up; keep educating citizens and lawmakers, and continue building support for your ordinance for backyard chickens. You can do it. You will get there.