IT WILL PASS SOONER OR LATER.
There is a trend in self sufficiency and keeping a few chickens is a huge part of that.
We can be patient.

I think it's so wrong. I got really excited about pet chickens but then reality hit when I started researching. Where I live in Georgia you have to have at least 2 acres. I am bummed until things get changed here. Soon I hope. I would love 3 or 4 chickens but I only have 3/4 acre. I don't see the harm in a few chickens. They can count them when they drive by to make sure I'm not watering my lawn. LOL

www.cojchickens.wordpress.com

@ Someday: You write, "I live in the Wuthering Hills area....some of the sidewalks are full of water, so I have been walking in the street...I have to be careful where I walk because of all the dog poop not picked up. We have neighbors with small children and sand boxes. The boxes have to be covered because people let their cats out at night."
You continue, "Our city council are elected people who represent our ideas." You should really talk to them then. Maybe they'll fix the water problem and even ban cats and dogs from your neighborhood...or else, an alternative would be, you could always "move and make yourself happy".

Your worry about a few hens that would be living within an enclosed area of someone's backyard is unfounded and isn't based on any facts whatsoever.

Take the time to look at some of the many websites about backyard chickens and you'll become less prejudice.

I would rather have a neighbor with a few chickens than the neighbor who is dumping pesticides and herbicides all over their toxic green lawn!

I live in the Wuthering Hills area. Since the weather has warmed up, I have been walking more. Some of the sidewalks are full of water, so I have been walking in the street. To my dismay, I have to be careful where I walk because of all the dog poop not picked up. We have neighbors with small children and sand boxes. The boxes have to be covered because people let their cats out at night. People can't be responsible for cats and dogs, do you really think there wouldn't be a problem with chickens? Why open up a can of worms? Plus chickens belong on a farm, not in the city. Since there are areas around where chickens are allowed, please move there and make yourself happy. The majority has spoken. Our city council are elected people who represent our ideas. They have said no. Show us how responsible you say you are, and accept the answer.

I guarantee 4 hens are far less noisy than a neighbors leaf blower, lawn mower and snow blower; less polluting than a neighbor's toxic lawn chemicals, dog, and smoke from backyard fire pits; less "unsightly" than a neighbors abandoned vehicles, falling down dog house/run and an apartment's over-flowing trash dumpster; less attracting of vermin than the feral cats that kill birds at wild bird feeders. Those who oppose the raising of a few chickens for sustainability, education, companionship, food, and much more can celebrate a temporary defeat of this amendment But, if for no other of the myraid of rational and factual benefits of urban chickens, discriminating against downtown city residents by banning hens vs. legal hen ownership within the same city boundaries in "out-laying" neighborhoods will keep the issue alive.

Having a couple of chickens in one's backyard shouldn't bother anyone. They are very gentle creatures and they are not noisy, stinky or anything. Roosters can be loud and I would not advise keeping them in built up communities, but other than that, chickens are fun and everyone should be allowed to keep them in their own backyard if they have sufficient room and are willing to take care of them.

Visit the "new and improved!" chlorine and MSG free: www.cojchickens.wordpress.com !

That's right Jen! If call 1 thinks a few chickens are smelly how come it doesn't stink under my bird feeder? Lots of birds there! Should we get rid of bird feeders too? Are the Blue Jays going to make us ill in your mind too?

I find it quite funny that a previous comment was made about how a previous voter could not believe how 53% of people could be (pretty much) so ignorant on how smelly and unhealthy chickens are... LOL!!! Obviously this voter is the ignorant one and has probably never been around an urban chicken coop! We're not talking about a chicken house silly! Yes, 100,000 chickens will smell. Those are factory farms. That is what we, urban chicken owners, are trying to move our families away from... sickness, disease, inhumane treatment of animals, etc. Take it from the enlightened chicken owner comments. Chickens have so many wonderful benefits including (surprise, surprise) that they make loving pets! Chickens can actually be very easy to take care of and low maintenance! Take it from me, a suburban chicken owner! I love my chickens! Personally, I think cats smell. In fact, cats can spread dangerous diseases. There poop is actually toxic to the planet. Think twice before you spout out untruths about chickens, because there are many negative truths about politically acceptable animals. Fair's Fair!

I can't believe the person making remarks about the smell and illness if we keep chickens. I think cats have won the smell contest hands down! Has this person been living under a rock? Baby I can go to the lawn and garden store and buy chicken, sheep and cow poop in a bag for my garden! I personally like rabbit poop on my garden. Oh by the way the factory farms that make the eggs for you in the store spread the poop on the fields as fertilizer for other food for your consumtion. Illness? Read up on unhealthy factory farm food is, factory farm now there's a smell for you!

The City Council members are obviously misinformed and/or prejudicial in their judgement. They apparently don't represent the majority here. It sure looks like the wishes and rights of the majority of towns people don't matter. Since so many other towns are giving their people this right, and moving toward this more green lifestyle, they should absolutely try to explain why they voted this way.

Obviously the majority of people disagree with the prejudicial judgement on this ordinance. Are the votes on this ordinance publically disclosed?

Statements like, " I'll guarantee you that the majority of city chicken coop owners would be irresponsible when it comes to keeping they're [their] coops clean" have proved to be totally wrong all over the country. Just do a little reading on the topic. You're wrong.

Few City Councils have been able to find grounds to deny their constituants this basic right. I'm sure we've yet to hear the end of this.

Let's see, I just took a walk with my dog in the neighborhood. Lots of un-permitted dog houses and the people that don't pick up their dog's poop are just lazy. So I guess we should not allow dogs or cats or any other pet for that matter. Most animal owners are responsible and the Janesville Chicken People would be part of this group. Face it folks, we are facing very tough economic times and growing and raising your own food is not only healthier for you, it is good for the community and economy.

Absolutely folks ought to be able to keep a family flock of chickens!
There is a universal Right for people to grow (and rise) the own food. Hence: The Declaration of Local Foods Rights. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people have certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the right to grow one's food in their backyards —including a family flock of chickens!

ENTER — The Chicken Have-More Plan. About 60 years ago, Ed and Carolyn Robinson wrote a classic book called:

“The Have-More” Plan: A Little Land – A Lot of Living

Their book inspired millions of people recovering from World War II, to be more self-sufficient. The new book: City Chicks: Keeping Micro-flocks of Chickens as Garden Helpers, Compost Makers, Bio-recyclers and Local Food Supplies was written in the same spirt as Robinson’s “The Have-More” Plan from over a half-century ago. The City Chicks book has the ambitious intent of exploring three subjects.

1. Enhancing Backyard Agriculture. Urban gardening and farm-yards are on the verge of a giant leap forward, ushering in a new — and necessary — era of local and home food production. City Chicks shows how you can have a good meal of eggs and garden goods that only travel the short distance from your backyard.

2. Diverting Food and Yard “Waste” Out of Landfills. Chickens can help convert biomass “wastes” into organic assets such as fertilizer, compost, garden soil and eggs. This can save BIG TIME tax payer dollars from being spent solid waste management streams.

3. Decrease Oil Consumption and Lower Carbon Footprints. Commercial food systems cannot work without oil. Over 17% of America’s oil is used in agricultural production and, about 25% of this oil is used for fertilizer. The total energy input of food production, processing, packaging, transporting and storing is greater than the calories consumed. Chickens can help America kick the oil habit by decreasing the amount of oil products used in feeding ourselves ... and, at the same time, keep landfills from filling up with methane-producing organic matter.

City Chicks ushers in a new paradigm of how to use chickens in a variety of roles that help decrease carbon footprints, save tax payer dollars and support local food supply production. And all this is done in a way that is biologically sustainable, economically equitable, and serves us, our communities, our Earth and the future generations of all beings.

May the flock be with YOU!
Pat Foreman

A coop with 4 hens in it is EASY to maintain. Do you know what the facts are concerning health issues? NO BIG DEAL. CDC says: Wash your hands. This is why most major cities allow hens in town, as well as many smaller towns and cities. The can of worms is open all across the country, and going just fine, thanks!

I can't believe I'm seeing 53% No. Do you people realize how bad a chicken coop smells when their not cleaned daily?! How unhealthy that can be to children?! 53%.. OOOpps.. I just noticed.. 13 votes. Ok.. I can see 12 people not knowing what they're talking about.

I know one thing. You open that can of worms inside a city, & your opening a hodgepodge of illnesses, because I'll guarantee you that the majority of city chicken coop owners would be irresponsible when it comes to keeping they're coops clean.

Wow.. Its been a while, but I think I just agreed with the City Council. Maybe we're starting a trend.