A group of Athens residents is trying to make it easier to own chickens in the city.
At the Jan. 22 City Council meeting, Athens residents Erik Peterson and Badger Johnson independently proposed reducing the required “buffer zone” — the space between chicken coops and neighboring property lines — from 100 feet to 15–25 feet.
Peterson hopes to have a regulatory process that could generate income for the city, such as an annual fee. In addition, no roosters would be allowed, and owners could only have a maximum of four hens.
“I don’t think there will be any negative repercussions,” Johnson said. “Almost everyone with chicken-keeping experience thinks it’s a good idea.”
The current chicken regulations prohibit coops from existing in most city-limit lots. Most students would not be able to accommodate chickens with the current space regulations.
This isn’t the first time the council has been approached about chicken regulation; in 2010, the topic was brought forward without success.
Peterson said that because of recent events, this is a topic that deserves to be revisited.
“Climate change is a reality and extreme events are becoming more common,” he said. “Localized food production is a key step in building (a city’s ability to adapt to change).”
In addition to localizing food production, Peterson added that chickens can be valuable for residents.
“(Chickens) consume insects, pests and weeds; they give us food; and when their waste is properly composted and disposed of, it can provide valuable fertilizer,” he said.
Councilman Kent Butler, D-1st Ward, said urban chickens would help residents access fresh food and also provide an educational component.
“Kids would be able to know where their food is coming from,” Butler said.
He added that the current proposal for urban chickens should include input from Mayor Paul Wiehl and explore the possible need for an animal-control officer.
Three major concerns about keeping chickens are disease, noise and odor, but Peterson thinks these should be reassessed with fact.
However, he added that if owners keep their chickens in clean coops, wash their hands and prepare food properly, disease shouldn’t be a problem.
“Other animals bark and poop, and we’ve managed to get around those,” Johnson said.
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