Check out the PG backyard hen campaign.
You can sign the petition to allow chickens in PG online, or at the Cheverly Community Market on Satuday--more info over on ChvBlog. The text of the petition appears below.
Petition for Backyard Hens in Prince George's County
We believe that backyard chickens are wonderful pets that provide many benefits to their owners and to the community. We respectfully ask that the city pass a resolution in support of backyard chicken keeping, with the following conditions:
1. No roosters
2. Birds shall be kept within a secure enclosure and not allowed to run beyond owners' property boundaries
3. Enclosures shall be located no closer than 25 feet from nearest neighbor's residence
4. No more than 6 hens allowed per residence
Backyard hens bring joy to their owners, and also eat insects, produce healthy eggs, and provide excellent garden compost. When kept properly, like any other pet, they are clean and safe.
Signed,
Our various neighbors let their cats roam around our neighborhood day and night, and the decreasing bird population is proof of it (found more "leftovers" this morning). The kitties are going to have a field day with this one!! Yikes!
ReplyDeleteWe are told by our pest control company that animal droppings of this sort attract rats. Farm animals surely have their place, but not in an already overcrowded suburban area!
ReplyDeleteThe rodent community will also have a field day with this one...
ReplyDeleteWe want hens in our backyard.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
what is the link to sign hem petition?
ReplyDeleteHere's the link: http://www.pghens.com/
ReplyDeleteHi all,
ReplyDeleteI'm a biologist for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and also one of the organizers of the chicken campaign.
Rodents do not eat feces. That's gross! They eat food scraps, especially grains. They can be attracted to chicken coops if the chickens are fed sloppily. Rodents can also be attracted to a wild bird feeder, or dog or cat food that is left outside, or a vegetable garden. Most of the time, though, none of these things is an issue. Following a few simple guidelines will prevent rodent problems in coops.
It is possible for cats to kill hens, especially smaller ones. Raccoons, foxes, and other wild animals can also kill hens. That is why chicken owners keep their hens in coops. Owners may let hens out to roam around the yard (within a fence) with supervision, but most of the time is spent in the coop, which keeps them safe.