West Valley says no to backyard chickens

WEST VALLEY CITY — Backlash from residents swayed the West Valley City Council on Tuesday to unanimously deny allowing residents to raise chickens in residential areas.

The proposed amendment to the city's ordinance would have allowed up to eight hens, with regulations regarding property size, proximity to neighbors and specifications on coops.

A couple of dozen residents showed up to Tuesday's City Council meeting regarding the chicken ordinance. Several voiced concerns about chickens in residential areas, while one woman spoke in favor of allowing hens.

Concerned residents said they worry about rats and other rodents being attracted to chicken food left outdoors. Others complained that allowing the barnyard animals would make the city look bad. Some voiced concern over disease and the lack of city power to control and regulate the ordinance.

"Let the hillbillies move to another city," resident Erik Farr said.

Chicken enthusiast Lori Cannon said hens eat scraps and bugs and don't spread disease if they're isolated in a yard. The eggs are organic and healthful. And hens are quieter than dogs, she pointed out.

"I was raised on a farm, and collecting eggs is one of my fondest memories," Cannon said.

However, resident Jan Markland told a horror story to the council. Markland said she was trying to be understanding of her neighbor, who is a single mother and has chickens and rabbits, assuming the family was supplementing their grocery bill. Markland was shocked and appalled to learn the animals were for feeding three boa constrictors — "one of which is 8 feet long," she said.

Councilwoman Carolynn Burt, joining the meeting via speaker phone, was adamant against the chicken proposal.

"We are infringing on our neighbors if we have chickens in our yards," Burt said.

Besides being smelly, the chickens attract raccoons and skunks and can sometimes have lice, she said.

After the vote, Cannon said she was disappointed. She lives in a residential zone and had wanted to raise chickens in her backyard.

"I guess I'll just raise doves," she said.

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