Letter to Ed.: Sorenson

Dear Editor:

Lately, there has been a few individuals advocating for the inclusion of chickens in town. Please consider the following facts why The ordinance should remain as it is.

In promoting chickens, proponents often cite perceived advantages, such as a steady and nutritious source of eggs and a plentiful supply of organic fertilizer from chicken waste, as well as companionship and stress reduction. These purported advantages are not well documented, however, and tend to be misleading.

1. THERE IS A VERY REAL AND QUANTIFIABLE RISKS TO HUMAN HEALTH FROM KEEPING BACKYARD CHICKENS BUT NO INCREASE RISK FROM MAINTAINING THE CURRENT BAN.

Scientists have demonstrated that eggs produced by backyard chickens are no more nutritious than store-brought eggs or eggs that can be readily obtained from local farmers’ markets. This also provides the added benefit of federal and state rules and regulations designed to protect consumers. Eggs, of course, can be a significant source of illness according to the Food and Drug Administration.

“Fresh eggs, even those with clean, uncracked shells, may contain bacteria called salmonella that can cause foodborne illness, often called ‘food poisoning.’  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that 79,000 cases of foodborne illness and 30 deaths each year are caused by eating eggs contaminated with salmonella. FDA has put regulations in place to help prevent contamination of eggs on the farm and during shipping and storage…”

Waste being used as a source of fertilizer or with other materials to form compost, in theory sounds good, but in reality, few are willing to use chicken feces to make fertilizer. Hence chicken waste will accumulate, producing strong odors and attracting files and vermin. “Chickens are also one of the “regular” animals on the planet, with large mature chickens being able to poop ROUGHLY EVERY 30 MINUTES. Small chickens are actually able to go more often.

2. EXPERTS WARN THAT CHICKEN ENTHUSIASTS TYPICALLY DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE SERIOUS THREATS TO ANIMAL WELFARE AND OTHER PROBLEMS THAT CAN RESULT.

Few aspiring chicken owners are aware of, or prepared for, the many health and other challenges chickens present. Medical support is often lacking or too expensive. Many veterinarians, for example, are untrained in chicken health or refuse to see chickens. Chickens are susceptible to problems, such as fowl pox, infectious bronchitis, internal and external parasites, including tics, mites, lice, gastrointestinal diseases, and Marek’s disease.

These as other health issues are not uncommon among chicken flocks and often go unrecognized by their owners, especially in the early stages.

3. BACKYARD CHICKENS DEMAND LOTS OF ATTENTION AND CARE.

What most new owners eventually find out is raising chickens responsibly is not easy and requires a daily commitment feeding, watering and cleaning the coops and premises, picking up eggs and retrieving the chickens at night to lock them in their coops. There is NEVER a DAY OFF (i.e., when owners go on vacations), and chickens are not always as cooperative as owners expect. In addition, there are a myriad of problems chicken owners face, including predator infestations, extreme temperatures, and costs for coops, supplies, heating and cooling, fencing, bedding, etc., can run into the thousands. Vet care, if available, can increase total costs substantially.

4. CHICKEN ABANDONMENT AND WELFARE ISSUES ARE REAL.

Frequently, first time owners facing these or other issues sometimes consider abandoning their chickens. Often, they do this illegally in wooded areas, along roadsides, or in open fields. Animal shelters and farmers have reported being overburdened with abandoned chickens in areas where chickens are allowed. United Poultry Concerns is a well known coalition of animal sanctuaries involved in the care of unwanted chickens. This organization drafted a collective position statement on backyard poultry due to their shelters “being inundated with calls to take in unwanted chickens,” a result of the increasing tread of allowing backyard chickens. The organization cites numerous animal welfare issues associated with chicken. An important point to keep in mind is that hens lay eggs reliably for only a few years. Therefore, they are more likely to be seen as liabilities when egg production is the reason for keeping backyard chickens. Yet chickens on average have a lifespan of 12 or more years.

In summary, very few potential chicken owners or the communities that allow chickens are aware of the very significant resources that will be needed. It is only marginally more humane than the methods used to raise chickens for mass food production and can compromise the health and well being of the chickens. By contrast, country farmers who raise free range chickens flocks that include roosters are placing their chickens in much more natural environment since roosters are a natural part of the chicken social structure and perform many critical functions.

Thus, excluding roosters from flocks is an unnatural act. I sincerely hope the mayor and other members of the board rely on their collective wisdom and say NO to backyard chickens. It is unlikely to enhance the best interests of the citizens of Peotone as a whole.

Mrs. Jackie Sorenson

Oleckno, W.A. (March 5, 2019) The case against allowing urban chickens in DeKalb (position paper) DeKalb Il

(http://www.fda.gov/food/resourcesforyou/consumers/ucm077342.htm)

(http://www.chickenrunrescue.org/municipal-regulations)

(www.chickenwisphermagazine.com)

(www.grist.org)

(www.nbcnews.com)