Comments on: Texas Town Enforces Chicken Ban, Assaults Sustainable Living

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:51:47 +0000

This is a little late to get in However, I am facing a similar problem. only I am in the country on 12 acres, I have free ranging chickens. and a neighbor who has been hating the fact that i live with my grow children on the same ranch. Her children don’t ever visit her. Chickens are one of the most beneficial animals on this planet. They eat bugs and help balance that population so we don’t have to use so much poison to keep the bugs out of our lives AND THEIR GIVE EGGS! It seems to me that some people think because you don’t live their lifestyle they have the right to make you live their lifestyle. If you don’t want chickens fine but leave the person alone who wants them. As long there is no harm leave it alone! This country has become more divided by politicians in the last 25 years then I can ever remember, (Iam 60 something). It seems they think they can form bad laws because someone screams loudly and that a bad law will give them an edge. what they have forgotten is they work for us. If they don’t represent us with balance they are going to find out how powerful ‘We the People. . . really are!
The first definition of law is ‘to instruct’, so maybe we need to invite our local representatives back to school, our school and teach them to represent us with fairness or we will settle they retirement plan once and for all. The Idea that our reps are in control is idiotic. Their jobs are temp positions at best not lifetime bureaucratic. If they want to eat the junk from the groceries store fine but don’t force law abiding people who take their own responsibility for their own health to eat that same body killing food. Especially when they are feeding themselves and lessening the burden on the rest of society. Ok I guess I’ve had more then 2 cents worth to say So I’ll let someone else talk. Thanks!

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:04:09 +0000

Totally agree on the dog issue as a comparison. The dogs in central Austin are out of control with loud, continuous barking and their ahem, excrement piling up smells plenty more than the entire chicken coop at a local organic farm that has about 50 chickens.

It’s not all about cost either – the chickens you raise yourself give you the control over what they eat and what drugs they ingest – unlike the over processed old eggs you get at most grocery stores that control your entire food chain.

By: Marye

Marye — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:08:22 +0000

Sorry, I meant to add to Russ… We have 2 1/2 acres and have one house on the left side of us,no houses on the other, no houses behind us (we back up to a wide creek ravine) and our house is approximately 1/2 acre back from the road. We are not in a subdivision, nor do we have such an abundance of chickens that they are noisy or smelly.

2 large dogs in a small back yard can also be noisy and smelly, but no one seems to be harassing dog owners. As far as whether or not we are trying to live a sustainable lifestyle? We have dairy goats which the city says is *probably* not an issue. They *think* we can keep them. They even said we could probably have a cow if we wanted. Just not chickens. We use solar energy in the barns, and try to grow much of our own vegetables. My husband became disabled so we are not moving forward as fast as we planned, but we are still moving in the direction of sustainability the best we can.
I hope this reassures you that my family is not the equivalent of Ma and Pa Kettle Move to Beverly HIlls 90210.

By: Marye

Marye — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:59:44 +0000

Hey, thanks so much! The support I have gotten has been overwhelming and the story has been circulating. The city seems to be waffling a little… so we’ ll see.

It is important that Americans stop giving away their freedoms. The government isn’t even taking them, we seem to be happily trading them for the false sense of security we are offered in return. It is important to note that ultimately the government is not going to take care of you. We should be helping each other and leaving government out of the equation as much as possible.

Thanks again! This was an awesome post.

By: russ

russ — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:05:11 +0000

Having chickens in the backyard means you have a sustainable life style?

I believe it is a lot more complex than that plus many other items one can follow up on.

İf you want livestock then live in the country. Personally I would not care for any noisy, stinky chickens in the next yard – and they are noisy & stinky at best.

By: Bea Raikos

Bea Raikos — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:12:00 +0000

Isnt it wonderful how people running cities and towns make laws but don’t enforce them until they feel like it. Like they didn’t know this family had chickens? Our desire to live a sustainable life style will be fought at every angle. Get ready, there will be more of these types of stories. Maybe we should have laws against the laws! Something like this..If this ordinance has not been enforced in 17 years..plain and simple… WRITE IT OFF!

By: Texas Town Enforces Chicken Ban, Assaults Sustainable Living | Home Made Wind Generator

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:27:44 +0000

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