Allow Backyard Chickens in Cary, NC
To: Cary Town Council
We, the undersigned citizens of Cary, believe that chickens belong within the town limits in residential areas. The Town ordinance should be changed to allow a small number of backyard hens for the following reasons:
-- Chickens produce a rich fertilizer by-product, high in nitrogen, eliminating the need for petrochemical fertilizers.
-- Chickens eat bugs, including ticks, reducing our backyard pest population, and allowing for reduced use of pesticides.
-- Backyard hens provide an educational opportunity to teach children where our food comes from and demonstrate responsible pet ownership.
-- Fresh, naturally raised eggs have an improved nutrient profile compared to conventional eggs.
-- Chickens eat table scrapes, reducing municipal solid waste.
-- A properly cleaned and maintained chicken coop poses no sanitation risks.
By amending the Town ordinance to allow residents to keep a limited number of hens in residential zones, the Town of Cary will encourage stewardship of the environment and food production on a household scale.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
To: Cary Town Council
We, the undersigned citizens of Cary, believe that chickens belong within the town limits in residential areas. The Town ordinance should be changed to allow a small number of backyard hens for the following reasons:
-- Chickens produce a rich fertilizer by-product, high in nitrogen, eliminating the need for petrochemical fertilizers.
-- Chickens eat bugs, including ticks, reducing our backyard pest population, and allowing for reduced use of pesticides.
-- Backyard hens provide an educational opportunity to teach children where our food comes from and demonstrate responsible pet ownership.
-- Fresh, naturally raised eggs have an improved nutrient profile compared to conventional eggs.
-- Chickens eat table scrapes, reducing municipal solid waste.
-- A properly cleaned and maintained chicken coop poses no sanitation risks.
By amending the Town ordinance to allow residents to keep a limited number of hens in residential zones, the Town of Cary will encourage stewardship of the environment and food production on a household scale.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
We urge the Cary Town Council to reconsider the issue of backyard hens.
Allowing residents to keep a limited number of backyard chickens would be a socially and environmentally responsible move on the part of the Town of Cary.
In recent years, with the price of oil and food increasing, along with nearly constant scares about the safety of the food supply, it seems more important than ever that people are able to raise and produce some of their own food.
Recently, cities across the country have begun allowing citizens to keep backyard chickens because of their numerous benefits. Seattle, Portland, and Madison are just a few examples. Wake Forest recently began allowing residents to keep up to 10 hens, and Durham is considering changing their ordinance to allow backyard hens. The exact laws vary, but in general they permit residents to keep 6-12 chickens in a secure backyard enclosure a minimum distance from neighboring residences, and forbid the keeping of roosters.
A backyard hen can live 8-10 years, and will produce hundreds of eggs in her lifespan. In addition to the benefit of fresh eggs, chicken manure is a valuable addition to any compost pile. They also eat bugs, aerate the soil, and can eat fruit and vegetable waste from the kitchen, reducing landfill usage. The eggs do not have to be trucked and refrigerated for long distances, which could even help reduce the owner's carbon footprint compared to buying conventional eggs. Some research has even suggested that fresh, naturally raised eggs have an improved nutrient profile compared to conventional eggs. Raising chickens in an urban or suburban location is quite different from how they are raised on a large poultry farm. Properly cared for and cleaned up after, they would make less noise and smell than most dogs.
We feel it important that the Town Council reconsider the matter, this time taking into account the feelings of their consitituents, and fairly considering all the facts.
I fully support the rights of citizens to responsibly own chickens. I have heard the argument that chickens allowed in city limits will increase animal control costs because many people will not properly care for their animals. Yes, people can abuse and neglect the right to own animals. If that is our primary argument, then logically, people should not have the right to own dogs, cats, or even when taken to the extreme, children.
As a kid in Raleigh our neighbors had chickens. They were just fine and didn't bother anyone.
I fully support the right to raise backyard chickens in Cary. Unlike most other pets -- and chickens do make good pets -- chickens produce food (eggs) and fertilizer for the garden. I do support a limit on the number of chickens one could raise. Afterall, we are not talking about setting up a Perdue plant here! Just a few chickens quietly clucking in the backyard, laying eggs and providing companionship and wholesome entertainment and learning experiences for the families of Cary.
By failing to adapt to the current economic and socio-political climate, you are in danger of denying the citizenry the right to life, as outlined by the Declaration of Independence. While the Declaration has no official legal bearing, the leadership of Cary should consider the possible political and social impact of legislating the ability of human beings to feed themselves and their families. Food does not come from a grocery store if you cannot afford it, and the less people come to rely upon an already strained and fragile commercial infrastructure, the stronger we will all become.
I think growing chikens doesnot harm the communities. Cary town should not stop the residents to grow limited number of chikens in their backyards,
North Carolina has a rich agricultural heritage and keeping animals is no small part of that heritage. Cary has grown and changed over the past decade and is now home to a diverse population of individuals and families from all over the world. As we continue to grow, it would be only in our benefit as a community to take a look back at our state's history as we work towards a positive future. Any time you are discussing issues in residential areas, the opinions will reflect the diversity of the neighborhood in question. Having lived for the past six months in Alaska next to a chicken coop, having had the wonderful benefit of fresh, free range eggs near every day, and having lived in Cary for the last 12 years I like to give a perspective on the possibility of backyard chickens. From a noise standpoint, chickens are not loud. Chickens produce a series of low clucks which is actually a pleasant sound. In fact chickens would add organic ambient noise to neighborhoods, many of which are plagued with the sound of air conditioning units, anxious dogs who are not given enough attention and bark, and the roar of leaf blowers. In terms of waste, chickens which are kept in a small area, can be cleaned up easily, and their waste can be composted into organic projects like flower gardens. I believe the "pros" of chickens far outweigh the cons, many of which are misconceptions held by those who haven't lived with chickens. Thank you.
I have a personal goal to reach out to our country and support all efforts to humanely raise backyard chickens.
BACKYARD CHICKENS FTW!
the town of carys people should have the right to own chickens
Cary, nc should be able to keep chickens in their backyard. I see no reason for them not to be able to. Me and my family support the petition, and I do no want to let them down.
I would like to see the ordinance changed to allow backyard hens.
I support the free choice for backyard chickens. We would love the opportunity to raise a small number of chickens for food and fertilizer benefits. There are numerous websites about this concept of raising urban poultry. I think that it can and would be managed appropriately by responsible neighbors. In terms of the cited downside of noise, smell and predators; I do not see how chickens will worsen those issues. If a responsible citizen cares for their dogs, cats, or other pets, these points are not issues. How can it be viewed differently than the stray cats that we have everywhere or the neighbors barking dogs. We have noisy dogs, running free cats along with wild foxes, raccoons and O' Possums near our house now. I fail to see how a few chickens will worsen that situation or could be seen more negatively. The issue is responsibility of homeowners not the chickens, dogs, cats or wildlife. I love eggs, chicken and the process of being more responsible for my little part of the environment. We should be given the ability to make responsible choices for our lifestyle and hobbies. I hope that the Cary Council does get educated on the subject and consider this proposal carefully. My wife just wants to move away from the many limitations; I would like to see them evaluated and changed when they make sense. Give us the choice to make our own progressive lifestyle choices.
I really can't see why how anyone can have a problem with people wanting to keep clean, happy chickens with much more humane standards than a factory would bother with. If these people are worried about how cleanliness they should visit battery chickens and then chickens in someone's yard. I think that would fix any concerns.
Absolutely -- Cary and Apex residents should be able to responsibly raise chickens. So many benefits!
I really don't understand what the big fuss is about, it's only chickens. What are people afraid of really, that the chickens will take over their neighborhood??? There are so many beneficial factors of having chickens and I wish people would just open their eyes and see that it's not a big deal. I would rather my neighbor have chickens in their backyard rather than piles and piles of old beat up rusted cars and other JUNK.
I support the right for Cary citizens to have and keep chickens. I have a small backyard flock here in Texas and enjoy all the benefits from them which include nutricious eggs, natural fertilizer for my garden and bug control.
