Why I’m Leaning No on Chickens
15 July 2009 | By kaidegner in UncategorizedAs most everyone knows, in the last months, the City has been considering a request from a group of citizens seeking to allow residents in Harrisonburg to have egg-laying hens in the backyard. This topic has generated more discussion than any other issue since I became mayor – by far!
Public debate is an important part of our political process. Last night, council made a step to have an official public hearing on this issue. To date, the Harrisonburg Backyard Chicken Project has presented their proposal, and there has not yet been an official public forum for the general public to voice their opinion. July 28 will be such an opportunity.
I want to commend everyone who has expressed an opinion on this issue for their respectful and thoughtful words. With only a few exceptions, people are remaining civil and respectful. I hope and trust that this level of civility will continue as we move towards a public hearing on the topic July 28. It’s likely that emotions will begin running higher as the decision nears, and that’s ok, as long as we stay civil.
So, what do I think? Well, I’ve been listening and researching. City council meetings, reports from staff, reviewing other cities’ ordinances, community discussions, lunch meetings, phone calls, emails, property tours, discussions with poultry industry folks and elected officials, sustainable living experts, impromptu sidewalk conversations, barbershop talk and more – all of this has helped shaped my opinion.
After all these conversations, I agree with most arguments in favor of allowing chickens, including the overall need to make lifestyle changes towards more sustainable living and that certain concerns about chickens are unwarranted. That said, I am currently hearing a significant majority opinion against allowing chickens, based on a combination of concerns (some, admittedly, more founded than others).
To overturn public opinion, I must believe a moral imperative or value is at stake. I do believe we have such an imperative at stake in terms of reducing our consumption of resources and energy in general, however I do not think the specific issue of chickens in Harrisonburg backyards meets my threshold for overturning what I think will manifest as a significant majority in the coming weeks against allowing chickens. If I’m wrong, and there is majority turnout in favor of this, then I’d strongly consider voting for it. So, your opinion counts.
I’m leaning against voting for chickens at this time and will remain open-minded through the public hearing on July 28. We’ll announce the location shortly. Please continue to share your thoughts with each other as respectfully and thoughtfully as you have to date.
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15 July 2009 | Harrisonburg Now Blog Said:
I Think I’m Sold on the Chickens…
After careful consideration I have decided that the city of Harrisonburg should allow residents to have chickens inside the city limits (not that I have any pull with anyone that matters). I was thinking no for a while after thinking about all the nois…
16 July 2009 | Morning laugh « The TOXIC Mud Pit Said:
[...] There are so many much larger concerns that could use the same kind of time, attention and blog posts . It’s chickens! Is there nothing more important happening in [...]
16 July 2009 | Andy Perrine Said:
Mayor Degner;
No matter the outcome of the chicken debate you are to be commended for keeping your campaign commitment to open governing. If only more elected officials took the time to lay out their reasoning behind decisions as you have here local, regional, state, national and global dialogues would be far more productive and far less divisive.
As an interested and concerned citizen (and one who is committed to more sustainable living yet still somewhat on the fence over the chicken issue) I thank you.
16 July 2009 | Sandra Price-Stroble Said:
Dear Kai, I also wish to thank you and the other Council members for allowing an opportunity for citizen response regarding this issue.
I lived most of my life in Page County before moving to Harrisonburg in 1994. My grandfather was instrumental in getting the poultry industry started in Page County. Our whole family (my mom and dad, brother, two aunts and uncles and my cousins) worked in some capacity in the poultry business. At one time they had poultry houses, free range turkeys, laying hens, an egg grading machine, a hatchery and a feed business. My father serviced the growers for Harry Kite and Company. These growers consisted of both small and larger operations. This was well before the days of the large, modern day poultry houses.
I also remember well the laying hens my grandmother had as well as the bantum hens and roosters my cousin and I raised for showing at the County Fair.
I remember the worried times when my dad would come home and talk about the need to control the diseases that would infect the chickens and how many of them could spread. This was even before the Avian Flu. Many of those diseases had very long names and were big words to me back then, but I knew when I heard those names it was something very serious and something that only medication and following strict sanitation procedures could correct. Sometimes it just couldn’t be corrected and many flocks of chickens had to be destroyed. I remember when the poultry business suffered and how much impact that had on our family and many others in our County.
I am proud of my roots and proud of that heritage related to the poultry businss and the work experience I had growing up. I know that my parents were able to provide a good quality of life for us because of the hard work they did. I also was a teacher and counselor in the Page Co.School system for 39 years. Many of my students’ parents were envolved in the poultry operation, either as growers or employed at the local poultry plant.
I apologize that it has taken me a long time to get to this point in my blog response, but I wanted to preface what I am about to say by sharing my family background and my profound respect for persons who are involved with poultry operations or other farming activities. I also respect the views of those person who are supporting this project.
I am 61 years old, fairly progressive in my views and I am very interested in opportunities for more sustainable living. My husband and I have a small garden that is out of sight from our neighboring property owners and I try to preserve as much of the produce as I can or share it with others. I support the local farmer’s markets. I do not, however, believe that the passage of the backyard chicken project ordinance within the City of Harrisonburg is an appropriate way or should I say place to pursue sustainability.
I knew when I moved from the rural country farmland setting to within the city limits, I would be giving up some opportunities and gaining others. That was a choice I made. I did not expect to be allowed to raise chickens or have animals other than a cat or dog within the city limits. I did not expect that the yard adjoining mine would house chickens or other livestock.
I am concerned about the added enforcement duties that will be emposed on existing over burdened staff. There are already so many other violations of existing ordinances that are ongoing and difficult to enforce—-ex: zoning violations, autos parked in yards, trash ordinances, noise violations, violations of leash laws for dogs, yard upkeep violations. None of these may seem to be big issues, but often they are issues that lead to concerns for neighboring property owners. I also have not even addressed the demands on our law enforcement officers and safety personnel.
Just because an ordinance is passed to regulate a situation and protect individual rights as well as what is best for the common good does not mean the ordinance will be followed.
I am concerned about the threat that the backyard chicken project can pose to the poultry industry regarding spread of poultry diseases. I am concerned about the impact passage of this ordinance could have on existing property values that are already suffering due to economic reasons. I am concerned about the message that we will send to persons who are interested in moving to the City of Harrisonburg and investing in existing properties.
I commend the staff who have investigated the procedures that are being followed by other cities that have faced this issue. I am opposed to the passing of the ordinance to allow chickens within the city limits, but if the ordinance should be passed due to public support, then I would ask that you follow the recommendations from the city staff and require the 22,000 square feet in order to have a backyard chicken project. Thank you for your consideration of my comments.
17 July 2009 | Kai Said:
Thanks, Andy, for the feedback. I’ll do my best to keep sharing my reasoning on this website – I’m back-logged a bit! Maybe I can catch up this weekend.
17 July 2009 | Kai Said:
Sandra-
Thanks for the thoughtful response. It’s an example of some of the more thoughtful opinions I’ve received for keeping the status quo (no agricultural animals in city limits). There’s a tendency for some people on both sides to think their opposition isn’t “thinking enough” about it, which isn’t always the case. There are good arguments on both sides of this one.
18 July 2009 | Sandra Price-Stroble Said:
Thanks for your reply. We have been out of town for a few days and now I’ve finally read all of the DNR paper I missed. Actually I see there is one proposal that mentions 2 acres. I still object to passing any ordinance, but 2 acres would be more reasonable.
18 July 2009 | Kai Said:
Sandra- There certainly were a number of articles in the last week about chickens! The 2-acre solution sounds reasonable in some ways, but I would be concerned that all the administrative overhead to regulate, track information, etc., would then be for so few people, that it wouldn’t justify the expense. Also, it defeats the purpose for which this group of citizens got organized in the first place, which is to have chickens in your typical home’s backyard. So, if I don’t vote for the smaller lot size, I’m actually also unlikely to vote for the larger lot size.
24 July 2009 | Elizabeth Said:
Inspired by the Harrisonburg Backyard Chicken Project, I embarked upon the great adventure of being a chicken owner in April when I purchased six day old chicks. I live in Rockingham county on a lot size that is comparable to those found in Harrisonburg. Through my experiences in raising my backyard hens, I have learned to separate the myth from the fact when it comes to the chicken controversy in Harrisonburg.
Hens are noisy.
Myth: One would not even know I owned hens, they are that quiet. The most noise I’ve heard my hens make is a happy chirrup when they lay an egg, or I give them a tasty treat.
Hens are smelly.
Myth: The only smell associated with hens, is the smell of ammonia. This only occurs if an owner does not regularly clean the hutch or house and allows the waste to build up. Even then, it is not an overpowering smell, unless you are sticking your head right into the hutch.
Hens are a threat to the local poultry industry because they spread disease.
Myth: Poultry farms are most likely more of a threat to the health of backyard flocks. As long as backyard hens are contained in one area, any possible diseases that are in their waste will not be communicated to any other flocks. In order for the disease to spread, the waste has to travel. In fact, watching the poultry farms transport their flocks in front of my house makes me nervous for the health of my hens! Since I only own six, I have been able to watch each one closely to ensure they are healthy. If even one of my hens begins showing signs of sickness, I am going to know right away. I doubt my neighbor, who owns hundreds, is able to individually check each hen for disease.
Hens are a general nuisance.
Myth: My neighbors are so happy I have hens! Everyone is excited to have access to local, fresh eggs without having to spend a fortune buying them at Martin’s. In fact, we have more issues with stray dogs and cats, dirt bikes (you can hear those dirt bikes for miles!), and teenagers who think they can drive along country roads at 60 mph.
I’ve enjoyed following the chicken debate. This issue brings up many interesting questions or themes, such individual property rights versus government restriction/involvement, food accessibility, and the tyranny of the majority that so many of our founding fathers warned us against. It seems unfair for the city council members to base their decision on an issue such as this on an uninformed opposition operating from myth-based knowledge and not facts. Should politicians side with such a majority at the expense of, what seems to be, the minority? As a conservative with an interest in self-sufficiency and sustainable living practices, I’m not a fan of city council members being able to dictate to tax-paying landowners what they can and cannot do with their property, within reason.
Also, doesn’t Ted Byrd have money invested in the poultry industry? If he does, this poses a conflict of interest. Will he be abstaining from the vote?
24 July 2009 | Lowell Fulk Said:
Just for my better understanding Elizabeth, which do you mean is myth? The initial statement or the text following “Myth:”? Please excuse my confusion.
Thank you,
Lowell
25 July 2009 | Elizabeth Said:
The initial statements are myths. Sorry for the confusion!
29 July 2009 | Hillary James Said:
Dear Kai:
What a disappointment to hear about your votes on the chicken issue last night. It seems to me a serious and ambitious push toward sustainability would have led you in the other direction. I believe your fears about disease spread are unfounded, especially as disease-monitoring guidelines would be in place. When you ask citizens to continue to be actively involved in sustainability issues, it gets a lot harder when our efforts are thwarted.
Disappointedly but respectfully yours,
Hillary James
29 July 2009 | Christine Stephan Said:
Dear Kai,
I am also disappointed with your vote last evening. I am a resident who does not want chickens in her own backyard but would not mind if my neighbors did. Allowing backyard chickens might seem like a silly, small thing with which to challenge the majority but sometimes small changes can shift the perspectives of those who fear larger changes. Shifting perspectives of the majority is what must happen if we are to achieve a more sustainable path towards the future.
Respectfully,
Christine Stephan
30 July 2009 | Nicholas Detweiler-Stoddard Said:
Mayor Degner, would you mind sharing what perspectives you gained from the public hearing Tuesday? How did it play into your final decision?
01 September 2009 | Thoughts on cock-fighting « Rocktown Rebel: Proletarian Triumph in the Blue Ridge and Potomac Highlands Said:
[...] mayor recently betrayed his liberal bohemian / JMU activist constituency by voting no on legislation that would allow city residents to own egg-laying hens. (He even voted no on the [...]