[Ag-eq] Hens in the City

[Susan Roe]

Chesapeake lets residents own up to 6 hens in city. By Marjon Rostami The 
Virginian-Pilot November 21, 2012 CHESAPEAKE Backyard chickens are free to 
roam
- within their coups - in the city. The City Council voted Tuesday to allow 
up to six laying hens in neighborhoods, with a provision to review the code
change in one year to decide whether to make it permanent. Since summer, a 
group called 4 Chesapeake Hens, which makes most of its announcements via 
Facebook,
had lobbied the Planning Commission and the City Council to allow for a 
backyard flock. After the vote, dozens of supporters gathered in the City 
Hall
lobby, hugging one another and cheering their victory. Oh, my God. I can't 
believe that happened," said Wendy Camacho, a chicken advocate from South 
Norfolk.
Did that really just happen? The group's calculated and persistent actions 
won over the council in a 6-3 vote. Vice Mayor John de Triquet, and council
members Debbie Ritter and Rick West voted against the measure. Ritter and de 
Triquet said people move into their communities with certain expectations
and the code change could negatively affect neighborhoods. Ritter said she 
did not think the idea could be publicly accepted yet. Nationally, backyard
hens have become a growing trend, from people housing chickens on Brooklyn 
rooftops to home schools and 4H programs. Before Tuesday night's vote, 
chickens
were allowed only in residential estate and agricultural districts but not 
in typical subdivisions. Mary Lou Burke, who has headed the charge for 
chickens,
said 4 Chesapeake Hens will continue its public education on chickens and 
organic gardens and will partner with the library to hold information 
sessions.
We're so happy," she said after a group picture in the City Hall lobby. 
Earlier in the day, Burke pledged to make chickens an election issue if the 
council
voted down their request. I kind of had an idea when we got here that we 
would have the votes," she said of the council. Marjon Rostami, 
757-222-5207,
marjon.rostami at pilotonline.com