To: Springfield City Council
We, the undersigned Citizens of the City of Springfield, Massachusetts, and supporters of this cause, believe that chickens belong within the town limits in residential areas. The City 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 scraps, reducing municipal solid waste.
-- A properly cleaned and maintained chicken coop poses no sanitation risks.
By amending the City ordinance to allow residents to keep a limited number of hens in residential zones, the City of Springfield will encourage stewardship of the environment and food production on a household scale.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
