Few homes for hens in Amherst

[WNYresident]

Few homes for hens in Amherst



Two suburban residents want to raise chickens on their properties. But they're livestock, not pets, the town says, and they're not allowed.

Updated: March 15, 2012, 7:35 AM
Karen Marks' backyard doesn't look that different than her neighbors' in Eggertsville. There's a detached garage, a modest patio and a play set for her two young sons.


At first glance, it's easy to miss the 9-by-12-foot chicken wire enclosure that six white-feathered hens call home. Scrappy, Dinosaur, Apple, Scooby, Red Beak and Feathery have lived here at this Capen Boulevard address in Amherst since they were day-old chicks.


They officially turned 1 year old this week. But unless the laws change, they won't be marking their second birthdays at this address.


Someone called in an anonymous complaint to the Town of Amherst, and a code enforcement officer informed Marks last month that the residential zone she lives in does not permit the housing of livestock.


"We broke a rule we didn't know existed," Marks said.

Read the full story in the Buffalo News



I'd say they keep the chickens. If they cause harm to other people's property they are responsible. If they have kids owning animals teaches them responsibility if they care for them.

[nogods]

So you have no respect for the laws adopted by the community?

They can petition for a change in the law. In the meantime they should either obey it or move.

[WNYresident]

So you have no respect for the laws adopted by the community?

They can petition for a change in the law. In the meantime they should either obey it or move.

They are pets... Right? If they have names I would say they are pets. What do you have against chickens?

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

They are pets... Right? If they have names I would say they are pets. What do you have against chickens?

Did a little reading on this topic.

While 'backyard chickens' are becoming more common, they do pose some risk. Mainly, these small farmers do not have the tools to detect Salmonella like larger farms do.

According to the CDC, here are a couple of tip to reduce their risks while raising backyard chickens:

-Do not let children younger than 5 years of age handle or touch chicks, ducklings, or other live poultry without supervision.

-Avoid touching your mouth before washing your hands. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available.

They also note, Infants, elderly persons, and those with weakened immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness. So while these folks in Amherst are OK with the risks and consider them pets, they are potentially putting neighbors at risk.

Lastly, in the post on the news, the woman said "Our 4-year-old wants to get a light saber to fight off the bad guys who want our chickens,". Last time I checked 4 is less than 5 and we all know that kids under the age of 7 will put pretty much anything in their mouth.

[WNYresident]

Did a little reading on this topic.

While backyard cats are common, they do pose some risk. Mainly, these cat owners do not have the tools to detect rabies like veterinarians do.

According to experts, here are a couple of tips to reduce their risks while raising cats:

-Do not let children younger than 5 years of age handle or touch outdoor kittens, cats, or other live felines without supervision.

-Avoid touching your mouth before washing your hands. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available.

They also note, Infants, elderly persons, and those with weakened immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness. So while these folks in Amherst are OK with the risks and consider cats pets, they are potentially putting neighbors at risk.

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

Did a little reading on this topic.

While backyard cats are common, they do pose some risk. Mainly, these cat owners do not have the tools to detect rabies like veterinarians do.

You know this is a reach. You're not eating anything from the cats...unless you live in China.

[Frank Broughton]

I'd say they keep the chickens. If they cause harm to other people's property they are responsible. If they have kids owning animals teaches them responsibility if they care for them.

Teach responsibility - wow what a noble idea. I agree with Res!

[WNYresident]

Nogods, I am not saying to break the law. I'm just saying they are pets

[nogods]

Nogods, I am not saying to break the law. I'm just saying they are pets

Under Amherst law all poultry is defined as livestock regardless of the reason for which one keeps them. Calling them "pets" doesn't change their status.

The good people of Amherst don't want poultry in their residential neighborhoods. If she can't follow a simple law and be a responsible citizen then she should be arrested, fined, and driven out of the community.

And it looks like eliminating eggs from her diet might improve her life.

[WNYresident]

Under Amherst law all poultry is defined as livestock regardless of the reason for which one keeps them. Calling them "pets" doesn't change their status.

The good people of Amherst don't want poultry in their residential neighborhoods. If she can't follow a simple law and be a responsible citizen then she should be arrested, fined, and driven out of the community.

And it looks like eliminating eggs from her diet might improve her life.

So if you are pro-poultry your a bad person? and anti-poultry is a good person? That makes no sense.

So why would eliminating eggs improve her life?

[WNYresident]

I think if they want to raise chickens at there home they should move and Live on farm land. Who would want to live next to someone with those smelly disease infested chickens
They carry semolina, as well that they are very loud animals. Laws and zoning are put in for a reason. So have some respect for your neighbors and drop this silly publicity stunt for attention.

MATTHEW FELTON, HAMBURG, NY on Thu Mar 15, 2012 at 12:18 PM

This comment should be said to all the people that move to where the farmland used to be that complain about deer, possums, chucks etc,,,,

[WNYresident]

This is gonna be a fun one

While the idea of raising chickens in your backyard may be a romantic one, the idea if fraught with many problems.

Laws are passed for the common good, not one or two people. And, while this particular individual is doing the right thing and keeping their chickens properly cleaned and tended to, we all know that this is not the case for everyone.

So, if one family raises chickens that's one issue. But imagine if every person on the street had chickens and a handful of people started to neglect them. Animal manure can be very smelly and definintely harbors all kinds of germs and bacteria.

The best thing to do is to raise chickens where the properties are zoned agricultural.
And, again, the laws are passed for the common good, not just one individual.

It's like in Nevada where there was no speed limit on their super highways. Well, some people drove as fast as they wanted to, even though their cars were not safe to go 100 miles an hour.

Raising chickens by one family who knows what they are doing and are very clean about it, more than likely doesn't pose a hazard, but if several people raised chickens and even one or two individuals were sloppy with the manure, it would be disasterous. LOUIS CIOLA, SNYDER, NY on Thu Mar 15, 2012 at 10:37 AM

While the idea of raising a cat in your backyard may be a romantic one, the idea is fraught with many problems.

Laws are passed for the common good, not one or two people. And, while a particular individual is doing the right thing and keeping their cat properly cleaned and tended to, we all know this is not the case for everyone.

So, if one family raises a cat that's one issue. But imagine if every person on the street had a cat and a handful of people started to neglect them. Cat poop can be very smelly and definitely harbors all kinds of germs and bacteria.

The best thing to do is to raise a cat where the properties are zoned agricultural.
And, again, the laws are passed for the common good, not just one individual.

It's like in Nevada where there was no speed limit on their super highways. Well, some people drove as fast as they wanted to, even though their cars were not safe to go 100 miles an hour.

Raising a cat by one family who knows what they are doing and are very clean about it, more than likely doesn't pose a hazard, but if several people raised cats and even one or two individuals were sloppy with the poop, it would be disastrous.



So how do we start a law that bans cats? A pet cat is just as special to a person as a pet chicken is.


Now why did I mention cats? Because we read regularly about people hoarding cats in erie county. Some stories we have read about are little cat-tastrofies. So will the people who are going to enforce anti-chicken legislation put on the books anti-cat legislation?

[nogods]

So if you are pro-poultry your a bad person? and anti-poultry is a good person? That makes no sense.

So why would eliminating eggs improve her life?

The good people of Amherst decided long ago they didn't want poultry in their residential neighborhoods. why is that so difficult for you to understand. Is it too complex?

The good people of Amherst have also decided that any premise with four or more dogs more than four months old will be deemed a kennel.