The Chicken Manifesto -
posted on 05.08.09 by Shaun Daniel

A spectre is haunting La Grande – the spectre of backyard chickens.

For over three months citizens of La Grande have been advocating for an amended livestock ordinance to allow backyard chickens (hens only, no roosters) and rabbits within city limits. The reason: they want more control over their food system. And they want to promote a more sustainable and livable community.

With the costs of food rising, awareness increasing over the energy footprint of supermarket items, food safety issues like salmonella poisoning cropping up monthly, and the national and local economies growing more uncertain – who can blame them?

Eugene, Bend, Corvallis, and Portland all allow them. Elsewhere, in Nampa, ID, Missoula, MT, Fort Collins, CO, Madison, WI – even New York City! – chickens can find a home in someone's backyard. In fact, La Grande is the only municipality in Union County not to allow the keeping of backyard chickens and rabbits. The disconnect between what is permitted in a dense urban area like Portland and a more open rural area like La Grande strikes me as strange. Nonetheless, this is what the people have committed themselves to changing.

The current activity was hatched from an initial “chicken uprising” back in September 2006, when local controversy erupted over a complaint about a well-meaning resident's illegal chicken coop. When 15 citizens in support of chickens turned out to a City Council meeting that fall, The Observer reported on this development and referred to comments made by City Planner Mike Boquist:

“the idea of a change in the ordinance to allow a more flexible interpretation was considered, but didn't get off the ground... If the public organized, Boquist said, and presented a strong enough case to the city council for such a change, the idea might just have a leg to stand on.”

This time around, supporters of the idea of backyard chickens and rabbits are taking a proactive approach, working with local officials to create an agreeable solution.

In recent efforts, members of Oregon Rural Action and other individuals in support of backyard chickens have attended work sessions and public hearings to lobby on behalf of the amended livestock ordinance. All along the way community support has continued to build.

By the time of the Planning Commission's public hearing there were supportive letters to the editor published in The Observer (and none opposing), over 100 signatures of support gathered and presented to the Commission, over a dozen who spoke in favor of the amended ordinance, and 30 people in attendance for a meeting that typically attracts a handful of community members. The opposition was represented by 7 phone calls to City Hall and only 2 people who testified against at the public hearing.

When the Commission voted not to include the amended livestock ordinance in its recommendations to the City Council, these concerned citizens kept at it and brought the subject before the Council themselves this past Wednesday evening.

The verdict? The Council has shown a sympathetic interest in what the citizens of La Grande have to say and was likewise concerned about a proposal to postpone consideration of the livestock ordinance for a year or more.

Indeed the time is now. The support is there – with over 73% in favor of backyard chickens and rabbits according to an online poll by The Observer with 1180 responses – and the research and precedent is also there – with cities and towns across the country successfully allowing residents to keep backyard chickens and rabbits.

The City Council is to be thanked for hearing the residents of La Grande in their desire to keep backyard chickens and rabbits and to embrace their willingness to be involved in the public process. As it should be, citizens and public officials are working together to make La Grande into the best community it can be.

The Council has asked the City Planner to craft an amended ordinance for their review. They will be considering it at their regular meeting on June 3rd. This will be your chance to get involved, too.

Backyard chickens supporters of La Grande, unite!