Town Staff Recommends Allowing Backyard Chickens

CAPE CHARLES WAVE

February 3, 2014

The Cape Charles Planning Commission will consider a draft ordinance to regulate backyard chicken-keeping 6 p.m. Tuesday, February 4, at Town Hall. Public comments will be heard.

Town Planner Rob Testerman’s report lists both benefits and concerns about backyard chickens. He notes that most communities that allow chickens do not allow roosters, and recommends against that in Cape Charles as well.

Testerman says benefits of egg-laying hens are:  fresh and healthful eggs, companionship as pets, fertilizer for the garden, insect and weed control, and community building of like-minded chicken owners.

On the downside, Testerman reports, even hens make noise, although much less than a barking dog. Chickens can smell if the coop is not cleaned regularly, and salmonella could be a risk to the people handling the chickens if they are not cared for properly.

Escaped chickens, chicken predators, and pests drawn to chickens could be addressed by requiring proper enclosures and rodent-proof containers for chicken feed, he suggests.

Property values in communities that allow chickens often increase, Testerman reports. But he recommends against allowing the slaughter of chickens in residential neighborhoods.

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In developing a draft chicken ordinance to present to Town Council, the Planning Commission will consider what type of chickens to permit,  where they would be allowed, how many would be allowed, and what setback would be required for chicken coops from neighboring structures. Permitting requirements and enforcement of the ordinance will be part of the recommendations to Town Council.

In addition to the draft chicken-keeping ordinance, the Planning Commission will discuss the Town’s Comprehensive Plan update. Testerman is working with Elaine Meil of the Accomac-Northampton County Planning District Commission on topics to be covered at public input sessions. Meil will submit the recommendation to the Planning Commission for approval. No date has been set for the public input sessions.

The Town agenda and information packet may be read by clicking here.

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2 Responses to “Town Staff Recommends Allowing Backyard Chickens”

  1. Don Glowinski on February 3rd, 2014 7:05 am

    We live in Indianapolis IN and have property in Cape Charles. We allow each homeowner in the city limits of Indianapolis 6 hens, no roosters. Predators and rodents have not been a problem.

    I am also the poultry superintendent of the county and work with the State poultry association. The benefits are great. For once the town council should do something good for the town instead of constantly shooting themselves in the foot.

  2. Jan Taylor-Day on February 4th, 2014 10:54 pm

    As a child in elementary school I raised bantam chickens in our backyard. My dad built a very nice small hen house and fully enclosed “chicken run” . As the sole caretaker, I gathered the eggs daily and watered and fed my feathered friends–they were my pets as well. I favor allowing citizens the pleasure of keeping hens. We kept 5 to 6 hens (no roosters) and never killed them for food. My parents used their manure in our extensive gardens and we shared their eggs with our neighbors.