The Right to Bear Chickens

8 Tips for Changing City Ordinances

1. Knowledge is Power. Keep reading. To convince skeptical neighbors and government officials that chickens belong in backyards, you’ll need to know enough about them to speak about their needs, behavior and care. Visit regional farms and speak to chicken owners in neighboring towns and cities.

2. Build a Team. Assemble a small task force that includes individuals who are familiar with chickens and feel comfortable speaking to groups of people and have the time to commit to the project. Other community allies may include neighborhood associations, gardeners, animal rights groups, local chefs and restaurants, farmers, and food banks.

3. Build an Image. Give your movement a name. Start a mailing list of supporters and spread the word. Create a website, blog or social media group, and invite citizens and local businesses to join, offering upd ates throughout the process and asking for help and support. Getting endorsements from the community is important. Organize meetings for your supporters. Offer free screenings of films, such as Mad City Chickens or Chicken Revolution, for inspiration and encouragement. Find an existing chicken keeper who has a particularly docile hen that might be enlisted as a goodwill ambassador.

4. Get into Government. Educate yourself on how city government works and get to know your city officials, planning staff or advisory board. Identify individual members who may have a soft spot for the project and will take you under their wing.

5. Learn from Others. Learn the laws from other chicken-friendly tow ns and offer these as examples to your city council. What do neighboring cities’ regulations on keeping chickens look like? How many birds are allowed per residence? How far must the coop be placed from existing structures? You’ll need to navigate concerns about noise, smell and curb appeal from citizens and council members. Be prepared to answer questions. If the movement is flourishing in other cities and complaints are few, ask for a letter of support from those cities to take to your council members. If you’re particularly savvy about governmental affairs, you may even draft a proposed ordinance for keeping chickens in your town (modeled on those cities’ codes) and offer it at a meeting.

6. Get the Media Involved. Contact your local newspaper and other city publications. Target reporters who have an interest in sustainability and environmental issues. Speak on the radio and similar public platforms. The goal is to garner widespread support and to put pressure on your city council to address the issue (they’ll be more likely to pass the ordinance if they see a majority supports it).

7. Come Prepared. Put together information packets to give to the city council member(s) who are willing to help you. If no one is willing, attend town hall meetings any time chickens are on the agenda. Gather your supporters and ask them to attend. Pick a few eloquent individuals to prepare speeches on certain concerns (odor, noise, disease and so on) and ask them to speak when the council is open to public comments. Be polite and stick to the facts. Don’t forget to invite the media.

8. Be Patient. Some cities are able to overturn ordinances in 6 to 9 months, but many take 12 to 18 months to see results. Once you get the ball rolling, don’t give up. Be persistent but also compassionate and courteous. Do your research, be reasonable and respectful, and you’ll soon have legal chickens in backyards all over town.