For more info on "Wayne Backyard Chickens" please visit
http://www.woodlotfarms.com/Legalize_Chicken_Hens.html

Victor looks like your hard work may be finally paying off... congratulations. Just another example of what the power of one person can do.

Just a few blocks away from where I live is a family raising emu and lama's, as well as ducks, and various other animals. I wouldn't doubt it if they also have chickens. The street is lined with newer homes costing over 700,000. Around the corner is a neighbor boarding horses and countless neighbors have cats and dogs. There isn't a home paying under 10,000 in taxes, so how can our councilman remark our quality of life ? Children of all ages will now have an opportunity to raise and care for a pet that produces a healthy and edible breakfast, while they enjoy the experience of pet ownership. They will be able to enter they're chickens in contests held at places like the sussex county fair, the local 4H, or have they're own contests right here in town. This is going to be a good thing.

Joe........You are correct. There is absolutely on data that proves owning hens lowers property values. Franklin lakes, Ridgewood, Montclair, Wyckoff, and NY City to name a few all allow their residents to own hens.

I don’t understand what the big deal is about owning chickens? Why is Mr. Schweighardt so angry about this ordinance change? I am not sure he knows what “quality of life” means. Eating healthy, fresh eggs not anti-biotic filled supermarket eggs is quality of life. He sounds like an angry old bitter man. I watched the meeting on TV and there were about 5 or 6 people who spoke in favor of raising hens so I don’t know why he is singling out this Mr. Alfieri? Sounds like something personal rather than something professional. He is losing the battle so he is on the defensive. Sit back, Mr Schweighardt, take a deep breath, and think about a healthy, happy, sustainable lifestyle. You’ll agree, Mr. Alfieri is doing just that and it seems there are many other Wayne residents who will follow suit.

Bravo to Victor Alfieri and to Wayne, NJ for fighting for this step in the right direction. Good Luck!

Thanks for the support.

Now I love dogs, but in my opinion, NO city, town, or person has the right to tell you, you can't raise a chicken hen. While in these same towns, owning and raising dogs is legal.

4.7 million people are bitten by dogs every year in the USA, mostly children on the face. In the U.S. in the last 10 years there has been over 1,500 mailings and over 250 people have been killed by dogs. 16.6% of people attacked by dogs perish from there injuries. Chickens are not the problem.

http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/stop-animal-abuse/fact-sheets/dog-bites.html

I don't understand how it can be ok to have 6 cats, 5 dogs and an UNLIMITED amount of Pigeons, but you can't have chickens. What is the difference from one bird to the next, the Pigeons have no good use what so ever, at least the chickens lay eggs. I have one neighbor to the left of me who has an entire barn for Doves and my neighbor across from me has a shed full of Pigeons, doves and whatever else he has and you never hear them, you see them sometimes, but never hear them. I just dont understand why the chickens are a big deal ????

Chickens Draw Rats,Racoons, Possums and Coyotte's and Fox. Do you all want them around your yard?They could be rabid. I raised pheasents for awhile. I know what the birds attract. Keep the Ord at 2 acre's

A rats is a rodent. If chickens see a rat they will chase and kill it.
That is a fact. Think about it, why would a rat be attracted to a chicken?
What they are attracted to is bird feed and it not illegal to feed birds.

Plus there are 25 thing in your yard that attract rodents.

I have had chickens for over 4 years and have never had a problem with rats or rodents. I keep my chicken feed in a large metal can with a lid. With backyard hens the egg shells are so hard, rats would never be able to crack the shell. So you are incorrect. Also how would a rat pick up an egg?

You got rats because you were doing something wrong.

we used to have chickens in mahwah,but our town is so corrupt.if the rich don't want it,it won't happen!

the dude....Vegetable gardens and compost bins attract rodents to.
Should we make them illegal?

Vegetable gardens attract rodents...but not chicken coops?

Old Joe was right about you.

Dude....you are not getting the point. It's not the chickens it the food.

When using this argument opposing the owning of hens please keep in mind feeding birds is not ILLEGAL.

On the lighter side. I had 10 wild turkeys in my back yard. What do they attract?

Feeding birds doesn't create the kind of problems that chicken coops do.

Up county they used to leave trash bags at the curb like we do now. That attracted bears, so it's now illegal.

At one time in Wayne nearly every residence kept chickens. As the town developed, the keeping of chickens created probems for neighbors...namely rats...and so it was regulated to keep the coops far away from property lines.

That was a good idea. The new ordinance, in my opinion, is not.

The new ordinance will likely fail, because permitting chicken coops within 10 feet of a neighbor's property is not in the public's best interests.

@Victor - this is all very interesting. Having had chickens as a child and wanting my own children to have a healthy lifestyle and eat healthy and nutricious (sp?) foods, I am very interested in the possibility of raising chickens on my one-acre property. Did I read that you have a website? Can you offer any information to someone wanting to investigate the possibility of raising chickens? Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

If people want to have chickens on their property, I am all for it - as long as they live on a 2 acre or more plot of land. It is not fair for the people that live on top of one another in this suburb to have to endure the threat of unsanitary conditions that chickens could possibly bring. It is true that there are many things that attract rodents, but changing this law will just be another legal way for unsanitary conditions to exist. I know many people who reap the benefits of having fresh eggs laid by chickens on their property, and they all comply with the rules of their towns and the space issues. Laws should not be changed just because one person has no regard for his neighbors and wants to do whatever he/she wants.

Built -in swimming pools attract rats, more-so than a properly constructed chicken coop. I provided a couple of photographs of what a "legal" chicken coop should look like. I've also make coops on wheels used to transport around the yard. To be honest 4 chickens create far less "waste" than the family dog ( or cat ), and there's no ordinance stopping them from running about and peeing on the bushes.
Unlike cats, dogs and rabbit's, chickens don't lay baby chick's, they lay eggs. I also doubt you'll find chicken owners standing outside the local food store trying to find good homes for their eggs either. You won't see your neighbor and their chicken on a leash outside your front window taking a dump at the curb, and won't hear your neighbors chickens whowling or barking at everything from a local jogger, to the mailman every time they pass by. The chicken coops cost about $250-300.00 if purchased as a kit. Less if you make the material list and purchase it at Lowes or Home Depot.
and Concerned Resident- I let my son run around my yard with a mig welder zapping lightening bugs in the summer...what's the ordinance for that ? You're pathetic if you worry about what your neighbors are doing.
One day my kid might decide to build a monster truck back there, or weld a swing set together, still it's no concern of yours.

Just ate 2 eggs over easy straight from one of my customer's chicken coops. Thanks again Ralph! If only I could start a pancake farm....

I love how these blogs are just a chance for "mature" adults to call one another names. @ Joe - call me pathetic all you want - I will not play into your hatred of those who don't have the same opinions as you. As for the issue, it is for the township to decide what is going to happen.

The township doesn't decide anything. This is a totalitarian regime in Wayne. Those appointed to power decide. It is as simple as that. There is no democracy here. Only dictatorship and control.

I love the whole sustainability lifestyle, and the green earth concept, and really don't think I would object to a small coop even on 15,000 SF lots. The problem I have is the fact that there is a current violation of the townships ordinance that has admitably been going on for over 4 years according to Mr Alferi, and the Zoning Officer has made a decision not to enforce the law of the township. How is it possible that the individual responsible for compliance and being paid handsomely for that position, can decide what ordinances should and should not be enforced? With all of the current questions about the morals and ethics of the local governing bodies, how does this admitted, confirmed and debated violation not get addressed until the law has been modified or affirmed? How does every Wayne resident get a free pass like this?

Anyone familiar with me knows any farm-related knowledge I've gained of chickens was taught to me by the great Foghorn Leghorn. Beyond that my expertise is purely culinary; from nuggets to wings to marsala and parmagiana.

I know a little about economics, politics & slippery slopes and this issue is as much about "Chickens in Suburbia" as it is about the weaponry & power of the forbidden "Grown At Home" Movement. I'm certain at one point, rats & fowl, foul garbage & complaints about lousy "Chicken Parents" were central to making more stringent rules & regulations but now that's COCK-A-DOODLE-DOOKIE.

Briefly, this flat, “no change in sight” economy w/unemployment barely improving & jobs not offering true salary bumps, safety net benefits or even a trusted promise of employment NO LONGER "BUYS THE GROCERIES." Sustenance Farming should be an option for us all to HELP BRIDGE THE FOOD GAP (groceries rocketing upward ... why?). This new policy still won't let us butcher "Grown At Home" meat or sell eggs or veggies. Given a chance we could create a progressive hybrid economy in which we are both employees & micro-entrepreneurs. This would give us choice & a degree of independence; perhaps a way off the Middle Class Trail of Tears. The 1% can't stomach us as both sheep & shepherd: it doesn't fit the long-term plan so they distract us & get us squabbling over hens per acre or Oscar Fashion Disasters. Red v. Blue is a dead end. The issue is Liberty or Leash.

We choose Liberty at our house in our town. Our neighbors are happy with our choice of pets. A basket of eggs beats a pile of poop! BTW our 4 (twenty week old) Sex-link hens (2 Red Stars and 2 Black Stars) chased a rat away today. It came down the hill from our fruit trees and running it went. They tried to hurt it (pecking, clawing, and squawking to alert the flock) they almost got the jump on it. Those girls have spunk!!!

You do not need acreage.
Any resident on any size property in Wayne NJ can raise chicken hens, roosters, ducks, turkey, etc......

Any questions contact the local expert.......http://www.woodlotfarms.com/