+1. The right to food is a human right recognized under international law, which protects the right of all human beings to feed themselves in dignity, either by producing their food or by purchasing it.

CLUCK Canada supports Port Washington!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Canadian-Liberated-Urban-Chicken-Klub-CLUCK/134671366683916

I have raised free-range chickens. They are great fun, but roosters can be problematic both in terms of noise and aggression. It would be prudent to nix roosters, and to limit flock size to fit the intended space. Also, expect issues with unleashed dogs (but they shouldn't be out roaming anyway). Also expect a period of adjustment while people become accustomed to having chickens in the neighborhood. There may be some push-back at first, but eventually, with rare exceptions, the citizens of Port Washington will wonder why we didn't do it sooner. Chickens are a hoot!

If this resident didn't ask, I would have, eventually - I am very interested (I've already gone through 9 eggs just this morning!). People want to know what's going into their food, so backyard chickens are making a huge comeback - big cities like Madison, Atlanta and Chicago are already on board. See the great video on backyard chickens at: www.transitionozaukee.com

Call your alderman and tell him what you think. Discussing it here is informational, but not as constructive as letting your elected officials know what you think. I, for one, am all for it. I also agree with Howard above. http://www.ci.port-washington.wi.us/CommonCouncil/Index.htm

This is good! 13 page Public Policy study done by DePaul University Professor Hugh Bartling. He had his class interview municipalities all over the US to find out if any regretted passing backyard chicken ordinances (in the previous 5-10 years). The municipal staff feedback was almost unanimously "no problem".
http://www.scribd.com/doc/124224621/A-chicken-ain-t-nothin-but-a-bird-local-food-production-and-the-politics-of-land-use-change
"A chicken ain't nothin' but a bird: local food production and the politics of
land-use change"
Local Environment: The International Journal of Justice and Sustainability

Having been raised on a farm with chickens, knowing the smell and work they are, I believe most "city" dwellers that think this is great fun and right for the environment will change their mind the first winter they have to bring them in due to the cold weather. I know a number of people in other cities that have done this and it is in most cases a passing fad. Oh and wait until you decided to fry up one for dinner and the kids find out!

I would like to reply to Scott Ziegler's comment on Patch, but it isn't showing up on this end--a least it isn't showing up at this time. Three points: 1) Granted farm chickens can be noxious, but it is primarily the result of overcrowding. Giving city chickens sufficient space keeps them healthy and happy. This applies to farm chickens as well. The conditions in which they are typically raised are appalling, creating health implications for the chickens and for us. I acknowledge that your (Scott's) farm may have been different. 2) Chickens don't need to be brought inside during cold weather. All they need is a coop (out of the wind), dry straw, water and fuel in the form of nutritious food. They will fluff their feathers and be fine. 3) As to eating one of the chickens for Sunday dinner, our kids need to know where their food comes from. In fact, knowing where our food comes from is getting to be a matter of life and death. Food scares are in the headlines every day. Large scale producers are spending millions to prevent laws requiring food labeling, and lobbying to under fund government oversight. Why? The answer is simple. If we know what's in the food they are selling and how it is produced, we would be very careful about eating it. We may even opt to raise our own chickens, for example.

Would prefer not to have Foghorn Leghorn living next door please. Don't know if my insurance has a rider to cover dynamite damage.

If raising chickens is a good idea, why don't people who live where you can raise chickens do it? I know people that live in the townships, and only 2 that raise chickens, both have farms.

Chickens are very manageable. Period. There is no reason to worry about chickens not being alright in the harsh cold winters at all. They are fun, much lower maintenance than people are led to believe and more entertaining than TV! (wink)

Let me teach you how to do this. To schedule an appointment to meet me, please email me at alaburhani@gmail.com. I am a teacher by trade. I can teach you how to raise chickies as well.

My chicken videos are:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBkLkPXk7FM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1W74kC-pB0

Heck yea!! Not enough rats, mice, fox and other varmint in our cities anymore!! I know the critter population in this county has dwindled due to all those evil farmers shooting them when they come, and they WILL come, to feed on the chickens and their food. Its a terrible state that would allow varmint population to decrease so dramatically when there is plenty of poultry to go around! Aint had me no good coon belly in a decade and have had to stoop to buying chineese rayon caps cuz there just aint enough fur around to make a suitable shapka.

I'm all for allowing a single goat per family inside city limits.