Within the last 5 minutes I have had the neighbors cat and another neighbors dog in my yard. I have also had their pet rabits over eating my bushes and their children hitting golf balls into my house. And I am supposed to think that these people would be responsible with chickens! I don't think so!

www.cojchickens.wordpress.com

Snyder:If chickens don't belong in your condensed housing,then surely its because the tomato soup is missing.hahahahaa!

My family would get the benefit of the food..

This chicken thing is NOT about farming, or sustainability, or anything of the sort. It's simply about people wanting another type of pet. PET. That's all. A fancy/expensive chicken coop and some cool chickens - think COY POND w/ a bit more clucking. Most folks won't really get the benefit for food - the chickens will lay one egg a day (maybe) and most folks are not going to eat their fancy/expensive chicken. Why the council thought these chickens would require so much extra code enforcement, who knows. It's easier to just say no than to entertain something new. I don't want chickens, but I have no problem with my neighbor raising some. They're interesting animals - and they're no different than having a pot-bellied pig -- OH WAIT, the council is afraid that chickens might lead to things like RABBITS, PIGS and GOATS (oh my). Silliness. Live and Let Live.

Alot of the naysayers are resorting to name calling - that certainly says alot about them

Wow. It is vastly clear that the naysayers on here have done NO reasearch, while those in support have their, er, ducks in a row. The person on the "con" size contradicts him/herself with the Jetson pill remark. This is where the rest of this culture is already heading, and you know what? That pre-packaged garbage you get in the grocery store is full of stuff your body treats as poison, and lacks everything can can nurture it!

And to the person who was so traumatized by seeing a chicken slaughtered (which is not on the minds of the hen-keepers ... do some reading), if people are not willing to know the process that puts that shiny package of meat in their fridges, they'd better become vegans!

"Chickens are nowheres near the problem dogs and cats are! You want stench? Walk past the "Dog Park" in the summer!"

Hey Rodger...school is now open.

The smell at the dog park isn't the dogs, it is the pheasant farm across the street from it! You know, birds raised for food! Yeah, that smell is what chickens smell like, you fool! When I open my window, I CAN NOT SMELL my neighbors cats or dogs. And they all own one or more of them on all sides of my house! Trying to compare a domesticated pet to a farm animal is silly. Stop typing before you hurt what is left of your brain.

Will the city still give me two million dollars so I can build a chicken coop in case they change their mind?

We cant have chickens - god forbid we do something not related to the ice arena or sand volleyball bars !!! Maybe if we payed thousands of dollars for a consultant the ordinance would have passed

As a farm girl now living in the city I am on the fence about this issue. I understand the need or want to raise your own chickens to save cost to get fresh eggs, but with the raising of an animal their is more cost invoved with vet bills, cleaning and food that comes along with it. Everyone needs to be educated on the cost involved and the cleanup. What will they do with all the chicken poop when it is time to clean up? I also understand that we as a community need to do something about these large farm corporations pushing out the small farmer. Not to mention all the businesses and the housing communities that are taking over the rual areas. Soon we will be swallowing pills like the jetsons did in the cartoon just to eat. Everyone needs to step back a really take a long hard look at the pros and cons. I think everyone who has any animal whether it be a dog, cat, snake, rabbit, hampster etc. needs a few lesons on taking care of them and be required to get a permit after they have had a class on caring for an animal! There is more involved then people are willing to do and that is why our shelters are overflowed with unwanted animals. Its all fun and games in the begining but when it takes work and effort then no one wants to continue the job. But this is just my opinion...

My final statement is this..We never find enough food for ourselves,our needy,our hungry,but,we've millions for Haiti? Chickens are nowheres near the problem dogs and cats are! You want stench? Walk past the "Dog Park" in the summer! What next,a cat park? Like I said.."What'd the chicken ever do to youuuuuu"! Let em alone! Chickens are loving pets,too!Besides,
I like eggs,good old fashioned kinds of eggs. Not these chemical-bombs at Woodman's!Today,we have to drive to other side of Footville,wasting gas,time,money,just to get "normal" eggs. And the taste is really great. Wishes,Rodger

How much more white trash can you get?

Knowing where you food comes from: Priceless

I don't see why there is such a desire to have chickens within city limits when a dozen eggs is pretty inexpensive.

It will be more expensive to purchase chicks, build a coop, purchase feed, and equipment for providing food and water. They will require twice a day feeding regardless of weather conditions, regardless of how you feel, who will care for your chickens if you're out of town? Where will you dispose chicken droppings? How often will you clean the coop? How many chickens will you have, chickens produce ONE egg per day?

Just for giggles, I gathered information and used the least expensive items that would be sturdy enough year round for a city slicker coop the cost of a coop will depend on how much space is allowed and number of chickens. Let's guesstimate $80.
Feeder, waterer, grit, 50 lb. chick feed,50 lb. layer feed, (1 bale) straw, (2)dual nesting box w/perch, poultry dust: Total $191
Chicks from hatchery for leghorn layers $5 charge for orders less than 100 chicks,(5) chicks $.77 each Total $8.85.

Total cost $280. (At $2/dozen, that would purchase 140 dozen eggs (2.7 dozen per month)
1 chicken producing 1 egg per day is 2.5 dozen per month. If the chick doesn't produce eggs until 24 weeks of age (just shy of 6 mos.) one could have $1780 invested before the chick(s) start laying. So, I don't understand why anyone would want to raise chickens in town, and the numbers definately tell me it would not be worth it.

Dude, really?
"Pet chickens"?
Income from said chickens (four to be exact)? After feed, coop construction cost, and the cost of the chickens....income? Tell you what Rodger, if you are my neighbor, come over and see me and I will give you $5.00 a month (which is about the cash flow you would have from 4 hens) to keep you from putting a coop full of poop in my back yard...

Chickens? Of course,yes! We allow vicious dogs,haunting hamsters,sneeky snakes,cats,birds of all kinds,rabbits,vermin of all sorts,yet,ask to keep a few "pet chickens",that at the same time could provide some comfort,some income,some food benefits,and we go squealing.What is the problem?I see no reason that chickens can't be pets. As long as a rooster isn't allowed.Chickens barely make a sound. Their by products are totally recycleable,unlike cat or dog waste. As for not allowing the owners to butcher them at eggs-end,that's just crazy too. If this is an issue then what about all the hunters that shoot pheasant,rabbits,squirrels,deer and bring them home to clean?What of the trappers that live in the cities!Come on people.Fight for worthy issues not the purely senseable ones. Besides..What'd a chicken ever do to youuuuu,except put food in your mouths! Wishes,Rodger

Janesville Chickens:
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Thank -god!!!!!

Years ago some neighbors of ours had chickens (pretty sure that they shouldn't have) It was just weird to me. I was probably about 10. One morning we had a chicken on our back porch! The worst part is as a child of 10 I saw the killing process live. Hence the term like a chicken running with it's head cut off. Just wrong on so many levels. These people also planted peas out of a can?? lol

I don't live near the landfill for a reason. I don't want the smell. So the people who chose to live there (because the landfill was there long, long ago) have lived with their decision. However, I do not deserve for any of my neighbors to erect a coop and stink up the neighborhood with chicken dung. I HAD chickens when I was a kid. We cleaned the coop DAILY and in the summer, it STINKS...been there and know first hand! Also, why don't you green Nazis support small local farms? Join a co-op and get and egg share! It is easy and better for you because the chickens are free-range. Not stuffed into some small coop in the CITY!!!!!!!

My cousin has about six chickens on a small lot in another state. They are quiet, didn't fly around, didn't smell. They did scratch up the yard as he only put them away during the night. Other than scratching up the yard, they took work feeding and supplying the correct suppliments and collecting the eggs ect. One thing them chickens did do was eat bugs...lots of them too. With the problem of japanease beatles in janesville, I bet the birds would chow down them bugs. I don't think the chickens would be such a problem but I don't think it's something someone needs. If the neighbor kept their property picked up and neat, I don't think four chickens would be an issue. (just so I could use the birds to eat my beatles!)

Your worried about smell? What are you doing about the landfill?

"truly, it is no big deal, and there are MANY benefits."
I take it you have never been downwind of a chicken coop in the summer. I am glad they knocked this idea down. The last thing I wanna smell coming through my dining room window is the smell of chicken dung. What does a dozen eggs cost? Come on....

Have any of the supporters created a solution for code enforcement, licensing, or permit fees? This seems to be a question from the city council that has not yet been addressed here.

Chickens do not belong in area of condensed housing. That wouldn't constitute free range chicken anyway. Also, they create a health risk for others. Having a Goat, sheep, donkey, cow or horse present less health risks and are less obtrusive in a confined setting. So where do you draw the line? I guess with chicken. And everyone knows that if you have hens, roosters will show up.

Maybe a bunch of barking dogs and all the cats running loose is more napalms and mooshoo's type of farming. IMO

zytha13 are you in my head today

SareaB1 there is look on cojchickenswordpress.com

SarahB1: Visit www.cojchickens.wordpress.com or contact me at cityofjanesvillechickens@gmail.com or join on Facebook groups, "City Of Janeville Chickens?" also on Twitter @ COJchickens

The community has nothing for kids to do that don't cost an arm and leg and growing up 4-H was a great thing to teach kids responsibility and this would be good for city kids to learn something they most likely wouldn't be able to do in their life.But no the city council does not support the people they are self serving and could care less what the community of janesville thinks. Just my Opinion... All to soon we will need a permit to have a garden and any other God given gifts. I see more support for the chickens then against. Take a ride around this fine city and look at all the eyesores and uncollected garbage at curbs and tell this site what you think of that. The garbage will not be collected if it is not close enough to the street (some if any closer would be in the street.)The garbage man won't take trash if it is on their huge snow mounds that they plowed there. It puzzles me why theis city don't like change and that they are all to quick to sweep the important things under the carpet and go for the unimportant costly things (ice arena ) that the people of this city don't want and actually the tings this city don't need. Again how dare Janesville look at something positive and maybe just maybe fun for those that like change and trying something new. Just my opinion.

We are planning to bring Mad City Chickens into town with their documentary, among many other things. This item will eventually return to the Council's agenda. There is no reason not to allow hens in town. All of the "concerns" brought up last night could have easily been resolved with further discussion. Most major cities allow hens in town -- truly, it is no big deal, and there are MANY benefits.

Maybe instead of spending 10K on a consultant for the ice arena, the council could spend $250 and get the Mad City Chicken Documentary to be shown in town and help to educate them on the keeping of backyard hens. Oh yeah, and more youth in Janesville could be in 4-H.

Nice to see the anti-chicken people are getin there moneys worth our city council except two voted as if payed.Frank P couldn't even stay awake .Kathey V a hobbie no its not a hobbie its a way of life.It goes with out saying that our council does not reflect its citizens only the ones with the money to buy there way throu

Awesome comments. Here's a thought: People (most, it seems) are afraid of change. Think about it.

This would have been a great oppertunity for Janesville, it's sad that we've missed again. Hopefully in a few years, we will start getting the improvements that this city desperately needs.

Four chickens does not a flock make. I am one of the people who would like to keep a few hens for various reasons. I have spent two years researching this subject. In fact all of the "chicken people" are very well informed, unlike the naysayers. Thank you Council members McDonald and Rashkin for keeping an open mind. We will work on the ordinance and be back. I felt that some of the other council member's concerns were belittling to us. Some actually told us they were concerned about the cost of raising hens and that we could buy eggs at the store. With the ecomony collapsing and most of our food being sourced in or mass produced to the point of very little taste or nutrition, a few hens along with vegetable gardens will only help us become more self sufficient and localized. Again, we will work on drafting a new proposal with all the details and hopefull at least get a trial period.

Napalm- you related to that Hank feller?

What a disappointment! I was in favor of this and looking forward to collecting my own fresh eggs. As a former farm-girl, I was hoping that Janesville was going to be open to this idea. Janesville missed a great opportunity here. I just don't understand why Janesville is opposed to change! Here's a news flash - we live in a farming community! Thanks to all the supporters - hope this is brought up again. Well said, granpa and ChickenWhisperer.

As I listened to the debate last night, I kept thinking about various things I was hearing as justifications of the naysayers....Perrotto's" land covenants" to limit "ugly" chicken coops but do people with large dogs have to get approval to build huge, ugly dog houses and runs? Numerous concerns with costs but any pet owner knows the vet bills can rival human medical bills! If you can't afford it, responsible people don't spend it. Potential poultry owners were treated as naive, untrustworthy and irresponsible. The Council has rarely (ever?) cared this much about "neighbor reactions" when they have approved far more intrusive, dangerous and, yes, deadly human endeavors amid our residential neighborhoods. They forget those people who can't have dogs/cats as pets because of allergies but who could have poultry! It appears the majority of the Council was more concerned about perpetuating the emotional myths of raising hens to garner re-election later rather than risking the appearance of being more rational and knowledgeable. Thanks to Council members McDonald and Rashkin who voted with confidence and REAL leadership.

The gentleman makes a valid point!

Ain't it funny how this here chicken thing has a few pros and a few cons and the city fellers say NO! Then we take a look at the ice rink thing and most everbody says NO and the city fellers say YAY! Hippocrit city council fellers- that's the message I'm gettin.

They did the right thing, It was not an easy decision to make but they had to think of the overall siutation

Where's the vote breakdown? Gazette, please report who voted which way.
Napalm, where do the eggs at Woodman's come from? How far are they transported to get them here? Are they irradiated? Are the hens squeezed into tiny cages or premitted to roam, as is humane but also more healthy for US? Why is everyone so afraid of the idea of self-sufficiency? Why have we come so far from not only raising our own food, but from having any real idea of where our food source IS? Why are we so wasteful and dependent on the Woodmans of the world to provide for our every need? How many dogs do you own, and what exactly do you do with their leaving? YOU can't compost. A chicken-raiser can.
Hens, folks, hens, at a maximum of four with rules and restrictions. I admire anyone in Mexico or anywhere else who raises their own food. Are you suggesting that such people are primitive and uneducated? I would submit that WE are the uneducated ones, if every time I want something I have to get into the car and go buy it. You probably think it's "unsightly" to hang laundry in the backyard and grow food in the front yard. Lawns and the care they require are the biggest waste of perfectly arable land that I've ever heard of. You burn carbon fuel to make it pretty. You add poisonous chemicals to keep it competetive with that of your neighbors. Ugh. So a few people want to return to a time of less waste. More self-sufficiency. Don't participate if you don't want to. But don't come crying to your hen-raising neighbors if inflation comes roaring along and you can't afford six-dollar eggs at Woodman's.
You must be one of the highly fortunate who still has a high-paying job.

About three years ago many were asking questions about the risks of avian influenza and keeping backyard chickens. I would always refer them to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website where it addresses this issue. On the Q&A page the following is posted. Question: We have a small flock of chickens. Is it safe to keep them? Answer: In the United States there is no need at present to remove a flock of chickens because of concerns regarding avian influenza. The U.S. Department of Agriculture monitors potential infection of poultry and poultry products by avian influenza viruses and other infectious disease agents. Enough said!

Many people who oppose the keeping of backyard chickens often sound off during meetings about decreased property values if the city allows the keeping of backyard chickens. All I can say is show me the proof. No one has ever shown up at a backyard chicken meeting that I have ever attended with any valid proof that someone got $10,000 less for their home because a neighbor kept backyard poultry or the city they lived in allowed backyard poultry.

To put backyard chickens into perspective I often tell people the following. On any given day I have more dog poop in my front yard from other neighbor’s dogs than they have chicken poop in their front yard from my chickens. I have more cat prints on my car from other neighbor’s cats than they have chicken prints on their car from my chickens. And I’m awakened at 2:00am more from other neighbor’s dogs barking than they have ever been awakened at 2:00am from my sleeping hens.

Chicken Whisperer

Time and time again I hear people complaining about the problems they think backyard chickens will bring if allowed into the backyards of their city. Some of the more common complaints that I hear are noise, smell, rodents, disease and property value. I would like to address each and every one of these complaints one by one.

I don’t think I've ever been to a meeting about keeping backyard chickens where the noise issue has not been brought up at least once. I often hear people complaining about the potential early morning crow of a nearby rooster. This is a very valid point, and I too would be complaining if a rooster were waking me up every morning at 4:30am, especially if I did not have to wake up until 7:00am or later. There are many advantages of keeping backyard chickens, but most urban chicken keepers want to keep backyard chickens for the benefits of having an endless supply of farm fresh eggs. Solution? You do not need a rooster to enjoy farm fresh eggs every morning. In fact, in most cases, hens will lay better if there is no rooster around to disturb their routine. Roosters primarily have two jobs, which they do very well. They protect and fertilize. You only need a rooster if you want baby chicks running around in the backyard. I still hate to see cities ban roosters all together because there are ways to keep roosters in an urban area quietly and responsibly.

Smell is another complaint that is often brought up when discussing chickens. Yes, chickens can smell just like dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils and even people, if not taken care of properly. We are not talking about a 300-foot commercial chicken house with 30,000 chickens next door. We are talking about six to twelve laying hens in a backyard setting. There are many ways to reduce the smell of your chicken coop.

If you don’t think that you have mice and rats outside your home right now, you are living in a fantasy world. Many claim that keeping chickens will attract mice and rats and think they don’t exist until the chickens arrive. One client of mine who is entertaining the idea of getting some backyard chickens lives in the most affluent city in Georgia. She told me that her cat leaves her little "presents" at the back door almost every day. These "presents" just happen to be mice and rats. She also said that she has seen mice and rats run across her backyard and up a honeysuckle vine to get over the fence and into her neighbor’s yard. Chickens themselves do not attract rodents. The rodents are attracted to their food and water source. Not unlike a dog or cat food bowl on the back deck or a potted plant that can also serve as a water source for rodents.

Cont...

Thank-you City Council for a no vote on a bird brained proposal.

mike1 and we don't have the other animals anyway, get real It was chickens not roosters that was the subject( edumacated fits you)then again narrow minded uninformed city people that haven't a clue.Napalm the country is slowly becoming city and they call it progress and to soon the real farmers are pushed away. How dare janesville do anything different or try anything new. What harm would it be. Just my opinion

There is NO valid reason to not allow hens in Janesville. If every naysayer had been allowed to state their concerns as a question, and have that question answered, there would have been nothing left to say. Every time a naysayer opened their mouth, I wanted to raise my hand, and say: "OoooOohh! Call on me!! Pick ME!! I know the answer!!!" There is so much FEAR of hens. WHY? That is the question I CANNOT answer.

i'am edumacated bout chickens,i lived by them here south of the airport acrossed the street for a number of yrs.yes hens only as the rooster crows every morning at day break,plus the skunks,foxes,an other rodents the love too visit the hen house.The council made the right decision on this green issue,believe me.no cocka doodle boo here

As Steve Knox said, make 'em get a permit -- done. Ah well.