Archive for Friday, May 30, 2008
Chickens and the city
Health officials concerned fowls will spread disease
Helen Gent, 16, corrals a chicken in her backyard Thursday in central Lawrence. Some public health officials are urging city commissioners to ban chickens in the city because of concerns that the fowl's filthy nature could spread disease.
May 30, 2008
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Chicken owners outraged at possible ban
A foul may be called on some Lawrence pet owners as the city looks into banning their feathered friends from the city limits. 6News reporter Jesse Fray learned it's a move that has some chicken owners in an outrage. Enlarge video
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Call it a dirty little secret: If you want to raise a few chickens in your backyard, chances are Lawrence city leaders aren't going to stop you.
For public health officials, it may be a tad too dirty for their tastes.
Both the state epidemiologist and the Lawrence Humane Society director have expressed concerns that allowing chickens and their waste in the city limits could promote the spread of disease.
"It actually is pretty easy for little kids to get diseases from chickens, if children do what children do," said Gail Hansen, the state epidemiologist with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
That might mean putting their hands in their eyes or mouth after petting or handling a chicken, which are known for having poor hygiene habits.
"The thing with chickens is that they don't care where they eliminate," Hansen said. "Cats tend to go in one place. Dogs tend to go in one place. They generally don't eliminate where they sleep. Chickens aren't that fussy."
City Hall leaders may become a bit fussier on the subject.
Based on the health concerns, city staff members have drafted an ordinance that clearly would make it illegal to have chickens in the city limits - unless you're living on at least 5 acres and meet some other guidelines. It also would give animal control officers the ability to issue tickets to chicken owners. The city's existing zoning code does make it illegal to have chickens in most areas of town. But the city's animal control ordinance - the law that gives animal control officers the ability to write tickets - doesn't prohibit chickens.
Commissioners have not set a date to consider the ordinance, but Mayor Mike Dever said he thinks it is an issue the city should consider.
When the day does come, it likely will create a debate. Chicken owners in the city don't think the idea is much to crow about.
"I would definitely rally the support of people who have chickens and who support this sort of freedom," said Bob Gent, a Lawrence artist who keeps two chickens in the back yard of his Barker Avenue home.
There's no good way to know how many chickens are kept inside the city limits, but Gent said he has several friends who keep them at their Lawrence homes. Dever said he also occasionally hears from people who mention being awakened by a neighboring rooster. That's another reason the city ought to address the issue, Dever said.
"It is an interesting situation when you have animals that are bred to wake up at the crack of dawn," Dever said. "I'm not sure everyone feels the same way."
But Gent, whose two chickens produce about two eggs per day, said the benefits of having chickens outweigh any health risks, which he thinks are slight.
"For me, this is kind of a symbolic gesture," said Gent, who has had the chickens for about a year. "It is a recognition of the cycle of life around us. I think society would be better off if we were more connected with where our food came from."
Hansen, the state epidemiologist, said chickens are prone to carry the Salmonella and Campylobacter viruses. Both can make people ill to the point of hospitalization for diarrhea, fever and nausea.
"I definitely understand and agree with people being connected to their food source," Hansen said. "But I think there are ways to do that without having them in your backyard."
30 May 2008
at 12:34 a.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
Oh, Heyzoos Keeristos on a raft!
Talk about “chicken” biosolids!
I been thinking about putting up a coop for the eggs as I have the land to do it.
“Organic eggs”.
yeah
“I'm from the government and I'm here to help you.”
yeah
30 May 2008
at 12:44 a.m.
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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…
Please read the following current article in Seattle Times.
They allow anyone to have chickens in the city.
Why are chickens dangerous here, but not so much that Seattle doesn't rule them out?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html…
30 May 2008
at 12:46 a.m.
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WereAllMonkeys (Anonymous) says…
Any of this getting through that little old blue bonnet of yours
Boy, you cover about as much as a flapper's skirt in a high wind
Course you know this means war
Fortunately I always carry a spare set of feathers
Gal reminds me of the highway between Forth Worth and Dallas - no curves
Go, I say go away boy, you bother me
I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot
Looks like the boy genius is tryin' to show me up
Nice boy but he's got more nerve than a bum tooth
Nice girl, but about as sharp as a sack of wet mice
Now cut that out boy, or I'll spank you where the feathers are thinnest
Now let me know when I come to something that interests you
Now looka I say looka here
Now that's no way for a kid to be wastin his time, readin' that long-haired gobbledeguk
Oh, that woman, got a mouth like an outboard motor
Pay attention to me boy! I'm not just talkin' to hear my head roar
Put that egghead book down boy
Scared - who me - course I'm not squared
Smart boy, got a mind like a steel trap - full of mice
That boy's as strong as an ox, and just about as smart
That dog's as subtle as a hand grenade in a barrrel of oat meal
This boy's more mixed up than a feather in a whirlwind
What in the name of Jesse James do you suppose that is
What in the world's that hen up to now
What's all the whoopin' and hollerin about, boy
What's the big idea bashing me on the noggin with a rolling pin
Who's responsible for this unwarranted attack on my person
You just know I'm gonna do something about this
You know, there just might be a market for bottled duck
You'd like that, wouldn't you boy.
30 May 2008
at 12:48 a.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
Another Foghorn Leghorn fan I see.
30 May 2008
at 12:55 a.m.
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TopJayhawk (Anonymous) says…
I think it's okay in Seattle because it rains all the time. That'll wash away a lot of guana.
30 May 2008
at 1:18 a.m.
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igby (Anonymous) says…
I like chic's but don't eat'em anymore. Nasty chic fat and the smell of frying chic just makes me gag. Eggs are good though. I don't mind the early cock's crow around 4:30 a.m., reminds me of the country. No ones can hear them now anyway with these modern air conditioners roaring next door.
Got to watch out for them spurs their meaner than a pit bull bite.
I prefer Games and Bantans, but once I had six of the Japanese silkies with purple heads and they layed little green eggs.
30 May 2008
at 1:35 a.m.
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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…
Here's a list of some cities that allow chickens.Big list.
I sent the Seattle article, and this list to the city folks.
Maybe you should write them too.
http://home.centurytel.net/thecitychi…
Here's the city email addresses.
http://www.ci.lawrence.ks.us/city_con…
30 May 2008
at 1:54 a.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
Rising fuel costs will provide a valid defence for those who will now be ticketed by the Jackbooted Thugs!
30 May 2008
at 2:04 a.m.
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kawryan (Anonymous) says…
“I definitely understand and agree with people being connected to their food source,” Hansen said. “But I think there are ways to do that without having them in your backyard.”
No tomatoes or lettuce bed either?
30 May 2008
at 3:03 a.m.
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Eidolon (Anonymous) says…
And I've always dreamt of keeping a herd of pygmy goats on my city house lot to mow my lawn and produce milk.
30 May 2008
at 5:26 a.m.
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gkwhdw (Anonymous) says…
Got nothing better to do with your time but worry about chickens? Perhaps a monthly check up on citizens housekeeping habits and the cleanliness there, chickens may be found to be a lot cleaner in the long run, for real! Get on with more important issues!
30 May 2008
at 5:29 a.m.
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KEITHMILES05 (Anonymous) says…
Only in Lawrence would they allow chickens to be raised. For a community who prides itself on being educated this is so disgusting to read there are actual people who have chickens in their yards.
30 May 2008
at 6:02 a.m.
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KsTwister (Anonymous) says…
If you check the laws Chad you find that this may drum up more court tickets than people were aware of. Least I can vouch for some who went because of ducks in town. And while you are calling animal control to ask you had better check on this too: “Cats tend to go in one place. Dogs tend to go in one place. ” You will find them rolling in it from time to time.
Now if we can do something about kids playing in the shade under the trees where other birds drop their loads.
A horse for cheap transportation might come in handy though.
30 May 2008
at 7:01 a.m.
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sailor (Anonymous) says…
As long as the owner has a coop and a muzzle on the rooster, I have no problem with it.
30 May 2008
at 7:30 a.m.
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average (Anonymous) says…
Urban chicken owners almost never have roosters. If you get a misidentified chick, once he starts squawking, he's Sunday dinner.
30 May 2008
at 7:49 a.m.
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TheOriginalCA (Anonymous) says…
We got each of our four children a baby duck one spring and had an absolute blast with them. We kept them in our paved dog run and cleaned and sanitized it everyday. This chore was a riot because the ducks would get to thrashing around in the clean water that we put in the wading pool.
30 May 2008
at 7:50 a.m.
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hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…
What is wrong with this Dever guy? First we hear about how the sidewalks and streets need repair and now Dever is jumping the fence into a chicken fight. I would take chickens next door to me instead of dog poop all over lawns or downtown and in the parks. This commission is truly worse than the last one and even Schauner wasn't concerned about chicken poop. I am with “sailor”. put the chjicken on a muzzle, better yet, it is time to muzzle the five commissioners and Corliss and let them register and pay a fee to serve on the commission. As for cool and gang and worrying about the condo owners, when those new hotel condo owners get done paying $350 a sq ft for raw floor space and an untold amount to finish out the interior, they will have enough money to have their own brown organic eggs flown in from the countryside. Why five acres in the city? A chicken doesn't need much space. Just look at city hall and the school district. Those two employers have hens cooped up all day in cubicles less than 100 sq ft.
30 May 2008
at 7:55 a.m.
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otto (Anonymous) says…
My guess is most fast food restaurants spread more disease than chickens. -
keithmiles05 (Anonymous) says:
Only in Lawrence would they allow chickens to be raised. For a community who prides itself on being educated this is so disgusting to read there are actual people who have chickens in their yards
Keith- Where do you get your food?
30 May 2008
at 7:55 a.m.
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snap_pop_no_crackle (Anonymous) says…
BTW, the cyber******ing website cool is plugging is part of a certain odious local 'forum' where you can see stellar examples of juvenile personal attacks. If that's what you're all about, I'd recommend going through proxify dot com if you want to check it out.
Still
having
a
wonderful
spam-free
internet
life
.
30 May 2008
at 8:01 a.m.
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emarkoulatos (Anonymous) says…
Of course chickens are dirty. Thats why we wash our hands, and the eggs. Chickens are the best pets to have. Their “elimination” makes perfect garden compost. They'll even till the garden for you if you fence it off. They give back, they recycle, and there is no need for a compost bin. We have chicken scraps, not compost. Our kids love them, handle them, and know that they'll get sick if they don't wash their hands afterwards. Chickens are much safer than toys made in China. But for some reason its legal for the toy store to carry those. And P.S., we don't have a rooster. I think our hens prefer it that way.
30 May 2008
at 8:01 a.m.
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consumer1 (Anonymous) says…
So dangerous dogs are okay in Lawrence, but having a chicken in your backyard is illegal. You are right !! This is an educated town. I suggest every chicken owner replace their chickens with pit bulls and Bull Mastiffs. Cause they poop in the same place, oh they also have teeth and were bread to kill.
Okay time for all the mamsy wamsy pit bull lovers to pitch a fit. Those of you with small Peni*'s who need a mean dog to make you feel brave.
30 May 2008
at 8:03 a.m.
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consumer1 (Anonymous) says…
and, I have NEVER seen a person walking a chicken who let it poop in my yard and then walked away leaving the poop for me to clean up.
30 May 2008
at 8:05 a.m.
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consumer1 (Anonymous) says…
What is next? Remove the frogs from Clinton lake? because they poop everywhere in the water?? Oh my gawsh!! What about the disease they spread??
30 May 2008
at 8:06 a.m.
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trinity (Anonymous) says…
unreal. ban chickens! ban balloons! ban elephants and circus animals! the list goes on&on.
whoever's post mentioned people whose homes are filthy, right on. there are some PLENTY nasty living spaces, WITH children, in lawrence and pretty much anyplace else.
let them have chickens! sheesh!
30 May 2008
at 8:06 a.m.
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logrithmic (Anonymous) says…
All for chickens in the city. Not only do they provide food, but they provide fertilizer for home gardens, a must has the days of petroleum end.
30 May 2008
at 8:07 a.m.
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Informed (Anonymous) says…
This is absolutely ridiculous! I guess we have no larger, pressing issues for the commissioners to handle. I'm glad to know that Lawrence is in such good condition: beautifully smooth pristine roads, adequate sewer facilities, positive cash flow, low crime. Now, let's go after those chickens!!
I don't care if my neighbors own chickens (or roosters). In fact, if they did, I would probably see about buying some eggs. I enjoy the sound of roosters crowing all night long. And, believe me, they crow all night long. All day, too!
But this is just a ridiculous piece of unnecessary legislation.
30 May 2008
at 8:11 a.m.
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dulcinea47 (Anonymous) says…
This is so nonsensical i can hardly form a sentence. Make sure to ban wild birds while you're at it, they poo all over the place. Maybe put a limit on the number of chickens someone can own w/in city limits… but otherwise, this is the exact kind of thing the city commission needs to encourage if they want a more ecologically and economically sound future for the city. Having a cheap and easy food source (eggs) and free fertilizer for your garden is the exact RIGHT thing to do when gas and food prices are rising.
30 May 2008
at 8:17 a.m.
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northtown (Anonymous) says…
Here chicken ,Here,come here chicken,set chicken,set,fetch chicken fetch,Oh how a chicken makes a very good pet???
Chickens are farm animals,just like the rest,get them out of the city,or allow pigs and goats also???????
Yes we need sidewalks and streets and many more things,but you folks don't need chickens as pets,Dogs also stink,we cuss the dog poop,people don't care,just like the most of you?????
Good Luck Lawrence,your city is croaking even faster than ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
30 May 2008
at 8:48 a.m.
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jaythomp11 (Anonymous) says…
I live in an apartment on the upper west side in NYC, and my neighbor across the hall recently purchased a chicken. Little did he know, however, that he bought a rooster when he expected to get a hen (he wanted range free farm fresh eggs). Needless to say, it is quite annoying when the rooster begins to crow at 5am. Something tells me that he won't have it for long though, since he hooked up with Marcelino - the owner of our local bodega. Marcelino runs a cockfighting operation and he has convinced my neighbor to fight his rooster. At first, I was uneasy about it, but Marcelino promised to take down the check that I wrote him that was returned to him with insufficient funds (it was a clown check:.the bank sent me the wrong ones). Anyways, my neighbors rooster - Little Jerry Seinfeld - won his first fight! He was pecking, and strutting, and talking trash!
30 May 2008
at 8:51 a.m.
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mom_of_three (Anonymous) says…
I don't know anyone who is raising chickens in Lawrence, but my grandparents used to raise chickens in my hometown. They lived just inside the city limits and had close neighbors. The chickens were kept in a coop and run, though, until it was time to butcher them. Then you might see one running around with it's head cut off. (turned my cousin off of chicken for years). then they would have lots of people over to de-feather and prepare them. Home raised chickens make the best fried chicken!
So I don't have a problem with it.
30 May 2008
at 8:51 a.m.
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blue73harley (Anonymous) says…
chicken train
runnin' all day
chicken train
runnin' all day
chicken train
runnin' all day
I can't get on
I can't get off
chicken train take your chickens away
laser beam
in my dream
laser beam
in my dream
laser beam
in my dream
I can't get on
I can't get off
laser beam's like a sawed off dream
chicken train
runnin' all day
chicken train
runnin' all day
chicken train
runnin' all day
I can't get on
I can't get off
chicken train take your chickens away
braaa… braaaaaccck… braaaaaaaa
30 May 2008
at 8:56 a.m.
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bluerose (Anonymous) says…
i would *much* prefer to be awakened by a rooster than some jerk's dysfunctional car alarm. how about a city-wide ban on those?
and anyway. what are kids doing in someone else's fenced backyard?
30 May 2008
at 9:05 a.m.
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autie (Anonymous) says…
Having a pet chicken is one thing. Having a coop with 15 or 20 hens and a rooster could be a major problem. I like the idea of requiring a minimum lot size in order to be permitted. That's what we did for pot bellied pigs in my town..to circumvent the ordinance already in place that prohibits the harboring of any “farm animals”.
30 May 2008
at 9:08 a.m.
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BigPrune (Anonymous) says…
“It is an interesting situation when you have animals that are bred to wake up at the crack of dawn,”
I feel a joke coming on.
Seriously,
Bird's are nasty and spread diseases. Years ago I had a job that required going into peoples houses. I went to one in north Lawrence and the people had live chickens running and pooping inside their house. Nasty!
30 May 2008
at 9:20 a.m.
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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…
How to raise chickens. You don't need a rooster. I haven't read it all. I looked for KSU site, but they are pdf and I can't do that right now.
http://www.chickenkeeping.com/getting…
30 May 2008
at 9:29 a.m.
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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…
keithmiles05 (Anonymous) says:
Only in Lawrence would they allow chickens to be raised. For a community who prides itself on being educated this is so disgusting to read there are actual people who have chickens in their yards.
**********
Keith, your post makes it obvious you didn't look at the link I posted to cities that allow chickens.
The list includes dozens, some like Seattle, San Antonio, even Topeka.
___________
People really should take a look at the list, and restrictions. The list of course isn't a complete list for the US, but still is an eye opener.
30 May 2008
at 9:36 a.m.
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Informed (Anonymous) says…
Multi, comparing us to Topeka??? C'mon, you should know better than that! ;-)
But, really, if someone wants to have 3, 4, 5 chickens, go for it. Fresh eggs, and occasionally, fresh chicken.
30 May 2008
at 9:39 a.m.
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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…
I was just saying it was on the list..yes, I knew I'd take flack for that! ;D
But I knew some people would say, those are wierd places, greenie places, this or that.
I wonder if the city folks read my emails.
30 May 2008
at 9:45 a.m.
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kublackbird (Anonymous) says…
Growing your own food (including eggs) is a good thing and it's a growing trend. It would be better for the city to embrace people who want to do so responsibly, rather than prohibit it. I think people who have chickens or people who want to keep chickens are probably going to attempt to do so no matter what. If you're really concerned about disease control, it seems better to allow them to do so openly (in backyards, not houses) and with some sort of complaint procedure for those who do not take proper care of their pets (cleaning up after them, keeping them enclosed, etc.).
As an example, in Madison, Wisconsin, the city ordinances require:
Up to 4 domestic fowl allowed per single-family dwelling
No Roosters
No Slaughtering
Poultry shall be kept within a secure enclosure and not allowed to run free
Enclosures shall be located no closer than 25' from nearest neighbors residence
A $6 permit is required (per household), to be renewed annually
Here's a good site with more information about keeping chickens in town, including information about the legal aspects: http://madcitychickens.com/index.html.
30 May 2008
at 9:46 a.m.
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Bossa_Nova (Anonymous) says…
i'm gonna buy a chicken and love it and hold it and squeeze it and call it george, just not in city limits.
30 May 2008
at 9:50 a.m.
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thelonious (Anonymous) says…
I haven't seen any mention of bird flu in either the article or the posts. That, to me, should be the only valid health concern, and it is a valid one. Bird flu has spread more easily in Asia in large part because of crowded conditions and people living in proximity to chickens. So yes, I think this city commission is cuckoo (pun intended) to be worried about chicken poo, but yes I also think that restricting livestock animals in residential settings is valid, but I think all of that misses what should be the overriding concern - controlling the potential spread of bird flu. Don't think this is a serious matter - go to this CDC link to learn more. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/
At least this city commission now has cemented its identity for history - I submit that they shall forever be remembered in Lawrence as the “chicken commssion”.
30 May 2008
at 10:04 a.m.
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blue73harley (Anonymous) says…
Even the Colonel kept a couple pet chicks around…
http://lemonodor.com/images/colonel-s…
30 May 2008
at 10:08 a.m.
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stuckinthemiddle (Anonymous) says…
not sure… but I don't think that there have been any cases of bird flu found in any domesticated birds in the US… and very few cases in any bird population in the US or in North America:
that doesn't mean that it shouldn't be a consideration… but I think it means that, at least as of now, it should be considered a rather low risk…
30 May 2008
at 10:20 a.m.
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thelonious (Anonymous) says…
There have been a few cases of avian flu in poultry stocks in the US and even a couple of cases of transmission to humans in the US and Canada. Small compared to Asia, yes, but it has happened, and will probably happen more. It's on the CDC site. Also, wild bird populations in North America are at risk, because of migratory patterns, etc. It will happen - only a matter of time.
30 May 2008
at 10:24 a.m.
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Informed (Anonymous) says…
“The sky is falling, the sky is falling. We're all gonna get bird flu.”
-Henny Penny, illegal immigrant in the city of Lawrence
30 May 2008
at 10:33 a.m.
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tir (Anonymous) says…
That statement about dogs tending to “go in one place” is untrue. Dogs will “go” wherever their owners walk them—usually in other people's yards or public parks. Very few owners do the right thing and clean up after them. I step in doggy-do every single time I work in my yard.
Cats—well, the ones that go outside, “go” wherever they please—a cat in my neighborhood has apparently decided that the sandy soil along the south side of my house is his/her perfect litterbox.
Seems to me that the Commission is unfairly discriminating against chickens, since cats and dogs are allowed to “go” wherever and whenever they choose. Why not let people have a few birds, within reasonable limits.
30 May 2008
at 10:37 a.m.
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sourpuss (Anonymous) says…
Wow, Lawrence is fortunate that this is the biggest problem facing them. We sure are lucky our roads are safe, there are no traffic problems, the sewers are in great shape, there is no crime, everyone has jobs, nobody is poor or hungry.
Thank god, so we can worry about whether someone has a chicken or not.
What a blessed little town we have.
30 May 2008
at 10:38 a.m.
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Informed (Anonymous) says…
Additionally, tir, it's not like people let their chickens roam the neighborhood. At least I don't think they are. I would assume that if people have chickens in town, they are in their enclosed yards or in some type of coop. So, again, most of us won't be coming in contact with chicken poop.
30 May 2008
at 10:39 a.m.
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stuckinthemiddle (Anonymous) says…
thelonious
it's only a matter of time before what happens?
30 May 2008
at 10:43 a.m.
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JJE007 (Anonymous) says…
Who is the city protecting? Where's the problem?
If you are afraid of chickens HIDE in your HOUSE, chickenschists! Chickens are birds and they are cool birds. This is about image, plain and simple.
If you want to live in ticky-tacky town with lots of regulations about your roof and lawn and house color and fences and car visibility and the number of times you can have sex each week then go ahead, you officious prigs! What kind of fascist BS is this?
Go arrest yourSELVES, chickenschists! Everyone is guilty! Harrassment is free for all! Power to the chickenschists!
30 May 2008
at 10:51 a.m.
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merrill (Anonymous) says…
According to the concerns chickens should not be anywhere in the county or on farms. Children are everywhere. Commissioners have much bigger issues on the table.
Some people keep chicken areas cleaned up including the the hen houses. Some owners have extensive knowledge about bird care and hygiene.
Some families have chickens as 4-H projects.
About the roosters crowing at the crack of dawn what is so unusual about that. What have human beings come to? What is going on here? Are those concerned about a little crowing would they be kept awake all night by the sound of a stream in the distance?
Just yesterday I heard of people in Lawrence that cannot live with new areas of wildlife habitat in our parks and demanded that the areas be mowed. New areas of wildlife habitat would save tax dollars and bring new birds into the area.
Lawrence,,Kansas is a small rural town folks so what does anyone expect?
30 May 2008
at 10:54 a.m.
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Bossa_Nova (Anonymous) says…
jje007,
you speakin the truth my man! liberty to the chickens! down with the chickenschits! give me chickens or give me death!
30 May 2008
at 10:56 a.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
I have learned that the chickens are preparing for this unwarranted onslaught on their Liberty!:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/32…
30 May 2008
at 11 a.m.
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stuckinthemiddle (Anonymous) says…
from the CDC website Q&A:
“We have a small flock of chickens. Is it safe to keep them?
Yes. 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.”
30 May 2008
at 11:13 a.m.
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shorttrees (Anonymous) says…
I would much rather have a rooster crowing at dawn than the neighboring dogs that bark all night! Especially the ones pooping in my yard under the bedroom window and announcing it to the world at 3 am.
30 May 2008
at 11:15 a.m.
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thelonious (Anonymous) says…
stuckinthe middle -
Q - it's only a matter of time before what happens?
A - it's only a matter of time before wild bird populations in North America become infected with avian flu, if they haven't already. That then becomes the vector by which commercial poultry and “backyard chickens” would get infected, and then the risk becomes transmission to humans.
Folks, I am not saying that this will happen next month or next year, but it almost certainly will happen, and it will require changes, like banning close contact between poultry and humans whenever possible. Granted, the city commissions' concern about “chicken cleanliness” is silly, but bird flu is not to be taken lightly. Search the CDC site - I am not suggesting that there is impending doom, but it is something that scientists are taking very seriously.
I still believe in science, at least, although I know it is fashionable with the current administration in Wash DC to throw science overboard if it does not mesh with their “beliefs”.
30 May 2008
at 11:21 a.m.
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stuckinthemiddle (Anonymous) says…
thelonious
thank you for the clarification…
and I believe that… about an increased infection of wild birds… it's likely inevitable…
but there are ways of controlling infection for domestic birds… and most websites that instruct about keeping chickens point out that one should consider covering the entire area where chickens are kept with chicken wire in order to keep out wild birds that carry diseases… avian flu and many others…
in this sense it would seem that it could be easier for someone keeping a few chickens in their backyard to keep wild birds away than it would for a farmer who has dozens: or maybe even hundreds that roam around in open areas:
30 May 2008
at 11:25 a.m.
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fairylight (Anonymous) says…
cool (Anonymous) says:
cool (Anonymous) says:
chicken limit (one per legal resident - with zoning limit on rental properties etc).
chicken tax ( $100 per year).
chicken license & health care certificate ($25.00 per year).
chicken deposit (if rental property).
chicken adoption agreement (on file with peta/aspca)
for proper treatment and penalties if not properly taken care of.
chicken health care policy with a new state of kansas -
single payer plan for chicken health care from above license fees.
chicken legal defense fund license contribution ($100.00 per year per chicken for legal complaints).
………………..
Free eggs and non lethal insect control - Priceless.
30 May 2008
at 11:31 a.m.
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autie (Anonymous) says…
so does this mean that one day the commissioners will come home to roost, only to find the chickens have flown the coop. That will give them something to crow about!
30 May 2008
at 11:54 a.m.
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KU_Dude (Anonymous) says…
cool (Anonymous) says:
see Dennis Domer story at www.oreadinn.com, now over
1300 viewers.
–––––—
It now has 1520 views. I find it amazing what hitting the refresh button when you're inside of that topic can do in a short amount of time.
30 May 2008
at 11:57 a.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
Considering the wild bird population in the USA, a few backyard chickens will hardly make a difference is Avain Flu mutates and runs.
At last count the Starling population of the USA was 937,893,412.
Not to mention the Sparrows.
A few hundred chickens?
Yeah, right.
30 May 2008
at 11:58 a.m.
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autie (Anonymous) says…
avian flu..the H5N1 strain. It is only one of many variants. The next Y2K? I think more people are killed by hippos in Africa every year than bird flu has killed world wide since this all started.
30 May 2008
at 12:06 p.m.
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hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…
merrill, says Lawrence is a small rural town, really now? Lawrence would be more like what Shakeskpeare referred to as full of “rustics'. What happens if I walk a chicken down Mass on a leash?
30 May 2008
at 12:09 p.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says:
“What happens if I walk a chicken down Mass on a leash?”
Marion writes:
Why not?
http://www.geocities.com/lugosi2k/4_j…
30 May 2008
at 12:29 p.m.
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smerdyakov (Anonymous) says…
Wow… for being a supposedly smarter than average community, we can be complete idiots.
Let's see:
- discuss axing the T at the very moment public transportation is more crucial than ever…since the last oil crisis anyway.
- while energy costs skyrocket, we not only fail to seize wind/hydro power potential, but make it virtually impossible for businesses to pursue it themselves…and should they succeed, we then prohibit them from putting power back on the grid.
- just as food costs are soaring, remove people's ability to provide food for themselves by prohibiting the raising of animals that are smaller than most dogs.
What's next? I wouldn't put it past some West Lawrencian to get it in their head that they don't like how some neighbors are planting gardens in their front yard. Let's make everything illegal except mown grass and non-edible plants. What's that? You have dandelions in your yard? Ticket. Dandelions make a fine salad green.
The ad at the bottom of this page says “Foresight is 20/20.” I have no idea what that means, but I'm pretty sure it in no way applies to Lawrence, Kansas.
30 May 2008
at 12:40 p.m.
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Satirical (Anonymous) says…
I think you figured out the solution Smerdyakov, we should raise and eat dogs. I hear they taste like chicken, but are more stringy.
30 May 2008
at 12:43 p.m.
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Informed (Anonymous) says…
“It is an interesting situation when you have animals that are bred to wake up at the crack of dawn,” Dever said.
Apparently, Dever knows next to nothing about roosters. Roosters are not *bred* to wake up at the crack of dawn. Besides, roosters crow anytime they feel like it, all day (or night) long. It's a wonderful sound.
Hey, where does Boog weigh in on this topic?
30 May 2008
at 12:50 p.m.
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acoupstick (Anonymous) says…
“Bird's are nasty and spread diseases.”
The same can be said about humans. If avian influenza were to become communicable among humans it will probably happen in high density human communities that live in extremely close quarters with a high density of domestic poultry, not in your back yard that houses a couple of chickens to supply you with eggs. If (when) a virulent strain of avian influenza does become communicable among humans, a couple of chickens in your yard will be the least of your worries.
30 May 2008
at 1:16 p.m.
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georgeofwesternkansas (Anonymous) says…
If this is a joke it is damn funny… Livestock on a residential lot?? Here all this time we thought we were backward in western kansas.
30 May 2008
at 1:29 p.m.
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georgeofwesternkansas (Anonymous) says…
I guess you can take the hillbilly out of the country, but you cant take the country out of the hillbilly.
Does Lawrence have a law to keep you from fishin in the cement pond?? Where is the bango players??
30 May 2008
at 1:50 p.m.
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merrill (Anonymous) says…
Chickens do not wallow in the their poop nor do they sleep in their poop. They roost. Hens do not crow. Chickens are pets too.
The undesirable health problems are most prominent with the industrial chicken farms due to the very crowded unhealthy living conditions.
Is this a large number of complaints? Have the concerned parties contacted their neighbors to become acquainted with the situation. Most chicken owners I know do not own Roosters so Roosters cannot be that big of a problem
So I guess all exotic pets will need to be outlawed in the city limits.
30 May 2008
at 1:57 p.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
George, this is not about “hillbillies”, who by the way are not bad people; look it up.
This thread is about self-sufficiency in a society headed for recession and extravagant energy costs.
No reason at all that folks could not keep a few birds in one corner of the yard and be completely safe and sanitary in doing so.
30 May 2008
at 2:04 p.m.
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hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…
Commissioners will now “consider” ordinance banning chickesn. Commissioners have “considered” funding for roundabouts i.e. benefit districts, commissioners have “considered” sidewalk repairs, commissioners have considered “sales tax for street repairs” , commissioners have considered budget cuts for the library, commissioners have considered “expenses for the T”, commissioners have considered more rental registration, commissioners have considered how to better have backdoor political meetings, commissioners have considered merging the T with KU bus system, commissioners have considered various options with building a sewer plant, commissioners have considered how to make Lawrence a more walkable city (which it is not!), commissioners have considered 24 hour parking downtown, commissioners have considered how to improve public relations with the citizens of Lawrence, all this “considering' of issues, when will they consider staying home and stop ;having meetings to “consider” that which they do nothing about.
30 May 2008
at 2:09 p.m.
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igby (Anonymous) says…
Chickens running loose in the streets really give you that, “third world city”, effect, like living in a small South American village.
30 May 2008
at 2:20 p.m.
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