Last fall, Nashville Councilwoman Karen Bennett, introduced legislation allowing chickens in residential zones; and last night, the council gave preliminary approval to the bill.
If passed, residents would be allowed to keep as many as six (6) hens-depending on the size of their property-for an annual permit fee of $25. Limits included: keeping the chickens out of the front yard and the banning of roosters.
Supporters for the bill showed up wearing yellow, children were allowed to share their love of the birds, and even Andy Schneider, the Chicken Whisperer, was invited to speak by the Urban Chicken Advocates of Nashville (UCAN).
Points were raised by locals and listed the following reasons to allow/disallow the bill-
Pro:
· Teaching children how to live off the land
· Solving the ‘food desert’ phenomenon-some residents have no grocery stores in their neighborhoods
· Eggs would be organic
· Encourages social interaction
· Low income families would be able to afford it
Con:
· Too much noise
· Attracts predators
· Self governing-neighbors would have to make complaints, rather than rely on local police being proactive
The bill still must win one more approval from the full council to become law.
Did you know…
· Hens lay about 1 egg a day
· Roosters are not needed to produce eggs
· Laying is based on sunlight-the less light, the less eggs produced
· Chickens are easily traumatized and could stop laying for weeks when they are frightened
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