[Durham INC] chickens

[RW Pickle]

Now here's an issue that our City will be addressing (at the 2-2-09
Council session) and I have heard very little about it from INC. It's not
an issue that came up yesterday and yet an issue such as this has missed
an opportunity to be discussed at any length. They will be in every
neighborhood if this passes.

All I think about the issue is that I hope they tax the chickens like they
tax my dog; make them get their vet shots like my dog, and make them wear
a tag like my dog. And since they are not fixed, charge them more like
they do animals that are not fixed. I don't want my neighbors chickens
knocking up mine...

I think this whole idea is an administrative enforcement nightmare. We
don't even enforce our recycling ordinances in this City, how are we going
to manage chickens? And does that mean I can keep geese, ducks, partridge
and pheasant as well? They all lay eggs. And how about snakes? They lay
egss also. Will there be new neighborhood butchering facilities that will
spring up to kill the chickens that don't lay? Or will there be "adopt a
chicken" safe homes to save the non-productive chickens from slaughter?

Animal control can't keep up with what they have to do now. Are we to add
chicken herding to their list? Or will we dial CHI-CKEN to get help? Will
you be able to adopt a chicken at the animal shelter? Is there such a
thing as chicken cruelity? Will we see backyard unregulated butcher shops?
Is the waste bad for our streams? Will Stone Brothers & Byrd once again
sell chickens? Inquiring minds want to know. And it'd be good to get some
answers to this emerging issue/problem/opportunity. So, do I need a
license to sell chickens? This may become a money making venture if there
is a rush to buy a bunch of them. And what about those Chinese chicken
viruses? Can it happen here? Will the Bull City change it's name to the
Hen City? Or maybe Durhen... In these tough economic times, is this just
another way to raise revenue for the City? Like I said, there are a lot of
unanswerd questions...

RWP
27 Beverly