Jun 5, 2008 2:33 pm US/Central
City In Colorado May Allow Pet Chickens
FT. COLINS, Colo. (CBS) ―
Soon people in Fort Collins might be able to keep chickens as pets, similar to a dog or a cat.
The City Council voted 5-2 to approve an ordinance Tuesday night, but it must still go through a final reading.
The idea has ruffled some feathers because of concerns about things like disease and attracting pests.
Fort Collins resident Dan Brown is leading the charge to allow chickens anywhere in Fort Collins. He says egg-laying chickens are a way for gardeners like him to make more food.
"People are allowed to have parrots, rabbits, dogs, cats, without issue," Brown said. "We're not asking for any special treatment for chickens. We're asking them to be treated just as any other household family pet would be."
"What's so great about chickens?" Brown asked. "They're quiet, they are clean, they're funny and I don't see a dog or cat out there that'll give you eggs."
Diggs Brown is on Fort Collins City Council, taking up the issue of allowing urban chickens and getting pecked apart by emails.
On email read, "My wife and I said this must be a joke, our City Council would never pass it. Wow, the joke was on us. You are opening the door into turning residential neighborhood yards into barnyards."
Brown voted against chickens out of concern their food would attract pests and the birds would attract foxes.
"We don't need predators lured into neighborhoods and I do believe that would be part of the equation if there are hen houses in the neighborhoods," Brown said.
But the majority of Brown's colleagues on City Council voted in favor of urban chickens, with a few restrictions:
-- There's a six-hen limit.
-- No roosters are allowed because they're too noisy.
-- No slaughtering is allowed.
-- Hens must be kept in a secure enclosure at least 15 feet from property lines.
Poultry proponents say people are already keeping urban chickens against current rules.
The final vote on the chicken issue is set for July 1.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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