Teen Puts ‘Pet Project’ In Front Of Council
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Chickens As Pets?
A Grandview Heights sophomore is trying to change law with his own
A Grandview Heights sophomore is trying to change law with his own “pet project.“
GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS, Ohio—When Andy Smigelski told his parents he wanted to keep chickens as pets, they told him it was illegal but that he could tackle the project on his own.
Andy said he wants to eat the eggs as the second step in growing his own food.
“I decided I wanted to have chickens in my back yard, so I really wanted to raise some of my own food, trying to grow a garden and I thought chickens would be the next step in that,“ Smigelski said.
Andy went before the Grandview Heights City Council at its Monday, March 2, meeting to ask that the ordinance currently banning farm animals within city limits be repealed.
He said council members were friendly to him and seemed to be open to the idea.
Andy, a Grandview Heights High School sophomore, said other families already have chickens as pets.
To some, the issue is amusing, but to others, it’s an issue of sustainability.
Worthington discussed the issue informally, but the issue has not come up again.
Now, Grandview Heights is considering legislation in its safety committee.
Smigelski said he researched the type of chickens he wants—breeds called Easter Eggers and Orpingtons, which he said are quiet and friendly.
Grandview Heights City Councilman Anthony Panzera said he has received feedback from the community.
“Overall, I understand why it’s being brought forward and I don’t disagree with his emphasis on it, but I think the community overall is probably going to be a difficult task to convince,“ Panzera said.
Constructive critics point out residents can buy fresh eggs at the North Market and Grandview Heights’ own farmer’s market in the summer and fall.
Panzera said negative comments have more to do with social perception—literally—not in my back yard.
Smigelski was told the safety committee will discuss the issue again at Thursday’s 5 p.m. city council meeting.
He said people have kept chickens for thousands of years and the issue wasn’t a problem until about 50 years ago.
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Reader Reactions
I have researched and am planning on obtaining a few hens of my own. I have checked with my neighbors and they are all fine with it. There is no need for a rooster since I’m not interested in “raising” chickens.
Actually, there is a rooster that runs around the neighborhood left behind from a former home owner that either passed or was foreclosed on, not sure, but nobody ever hears him and he has taken a liking to a neighbors dog who lives outside. It’s kinda cute!
Roosters crowing every morning is no more annoying than dogs barking all night and when being let out of the house first thing in the morning.
I live in Columbus and have witnessed a few people raising chickens and I am sure their neighbors are just as annoyed, but because they don’t live in Grandview, they are not getting the same attention.
As long as this boy has a coop, keeping it clean and keeping the numbers in check, let him have them.
If not, the law forbidding farm animals within the city limits should be enforced everywhere.
Having raised a flock of 25-30 chickens myself while living in the country, I can say that hen’s are quite and don’t smell. Their coop can get an odor if it isn’t cleaned just the same as a cat’s box or a yard that has a dog. Chickens start laying around 9mo old and lay for 2-3 years. Some of my hen’s layed 2 eggs a day & were double yolker’s. The taste of a fresh egg is better and the texture of using the eggs in cooking/baking is improved also.
My daughter lives in Durham, NC. The town council approved urban, backyard chickens in February with boundaries. I believe neighboring Raleigh had already approved them. The research the members did found that most objections were steeped in childhood myths and cultural stereotypes. My daughter is looking forward to having her own fresh eggs for her family. For reference: http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid:287872
BTW,
On Grandview’s website, the council minutes state he asked council to consider amending the current ordinance. Based on the context, I would imagine council would only go so far as to consider repealing the current ban on chickens.
A few things that turned up on Google regarding chickens and health:
“For starters, many people can’t get past the potential for noise and odor, even though hens live a quiet existence save for an occasional scratch or cluck. Odors don’t usually pose a problem unless homeowners don’t take care of their pets.
Other concerns include public health, including fears about avian flu. Because avian flu is spread by excretion from wild birds, primarily migratory waterfowl, it’s unlikely that backyard chickens represent a significant threat, a sentiment supported recently in State College, PA, where the borough’s Board of Health recently voted unanimously that “there is no public health hazard from the keeping of small flocks of chickens provided that the number of chickens is limited and there are strict controls on their housing and hygiene.“
To cover their bases, communities like State College have taken steps to address concerns about public health, noise and odor by crafting creative zoning ordinances. Most of these strictly define the chickens as pets, not livestock. They limit allowances to only a few hens, no roosters, and prohibit their slaughter or sale. Some stipulate that hens be completely contained in a predator-proof enclosure and locked in at night, or even all the time unless a yard is fenced. Most ordinances require that coops be attractive and well-maintained.“
http://www.bayjournal.com/article.cfm?article=3578
I am reacting to the text of the article, which said “Andy went before the. . .Council. . .to ask that the ordinance currently banning farm animals within city limits be repealed.“ There is no specific request in regard to chickens here, but rather farm animals of all kinds. Also, when raising animals for food there are all kinds of health checks and other measures that have to be adhered to, which makes it a very different thing from raising pets.
if we were talking cows, yes I would agree. But 2-3 chickens? There are numerous cities that allow urban chickens with little of the issues you raise.
I think chickens, cats and dogs can largely be lumped into the same category. If there is an issue, it would be irresponsible owners. Deal with that.
Besides, telling people to move elsewhere ignores the many reasons why they probably don’t or can’t.
I’m all for people growing their own food and in general adopting a more sustainable and responsible lifestyle. My objection to the idea proposed in this article is that there are very good reasons why it is not healthy to raise livestock on small plots, from health codes to general hygiene to noise and smell. The regulations are founded on very sound principles, and they should be maintained. If a person wants to raise livestock they can rent space in the country or move there.
I’ve looked into raising chickens, but I am not quite there yet.
Sprockets, there is a big difference between roosters and hens in terms of noise. In the city, hens really wouldn’t be all that much of an issue. Especially when you consider how much of a nuisance house hold pets like dogs can be.
Given the current economic mess, I think it would be great to see this issue finally addressed in the central Ohio municipalities. Allow people the ability to provide a small part of their food and help reduce some of their cost.
The young man should be commended for his idea and willingness to take on some amount of responsibility. A very rare thing these days.
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