Going to the birds
At one point last week, we were yacking in the newsroom about shopping locally to reduce fuel consumption.
Off the cuff, I mentioned it would be nice to have chickens in the backyard.
Immediately, about four reporters shouted, "You can't! It's against city ordinance."
I knew that. But I know it's not against city of Madison ordinance.
Then, WCLO reporter Beth Wheelock e-mailed me this story from The Capital Times.
(For the record, Beth Wheelock is pro poultry. Can you blame her?)
One Madison alderwoman is interested in opening up the ordinance to make backyard poultry possible for multiple family dwellings. Right now, only single-family properties can host chickens in the backyard.
When I lived in the Madison area, I was in Verona Township, so the city's ordinance wouldn't have affected me. I was in an apartment next door to a hobby farm that had chickens and steers wandering in the backyard. I probably could have had chickens if I'd wanted them badly enough.
I wouldn't want to take a stance on backyard poultry, however. I'd rather write stories about it. There are just so many puns a reporter could use ...
Alder cries fowl!
Council in a flap!
City won't scratch ordinance!
Good stuff.
May 29, 2008 at 8:26 p.m.
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My fiance and I LOVE the farmers market, have recently tripled the size of our garden. We are hoping to buy 5 acres in the country and raise our own sheep and chickens. We would love to start raising hens (yes HENS ONLY is a key point) in our back yard. Could 4 or 5 hens in the corner of our 50 by 150 foot fenced yard be that big of an issue?
I wonder how many people would support us if we went to the city council! Would Marcia Nielsen cover it?
May 29, 2008 at 3:43 p.m.
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Chickens produce eggs and fertilizer. A totally "green" pet. I'd rather live next to chickens verses the neighbors barking dog.
May 29, 2008 at 9:35 a.m.
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Mr Burns says :Eggcellent!
May 29, 2008 at 9:27 a.m.
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Homer says: mmmmmm eggs for breakfast, chicken for dinner!
May 28, 2008 at 6:57 p.m.
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As long as the poultry is chickens, and hens only, I don't see what the problem is.
I'd rather have a couple of hens living next to my bedroom window than the pit bulldogs three doors down currently.
May 28, 2008 at 5:47 p.m.
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For me it would be a choice: poultry or walking barefooted. Can't do both.
May 28, 2008 at 3:57 p.m.
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Gazette reporter given "standing ovation" for chicken story
May 28, 2008 at 3:43 p.m.
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Did I tell you I recently moved my old 4H trophies out of the folks' house? Yeah...the majority of them have chicken figurines on top.
I would have to recuse myself from covering a chicken story like this one. :)
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