I think people should be allowed to keep backyard chickens, as long as it's reasonably regulated. Permitting shouldn't be prohibitive, but should be enough to make it worth it for the City. Appropriate housing should be required, as well as a maximum number of birds based on size of the property and enclosure. I would be in favor of keeping them from flying, but that's a pretty gray area that can get into animal cruelty if we aren't careful (big open air enclosures rather than clipping wings).

They have been in backyards locally now for many years, and they've become popular once again. I travel extensively, and even in so.e urban areas people have small flocks in upscale neighborhoods. Regards, Frank

I am enthusiastically in support of backyard chickens! They are great pets, allow people to produce eggs sustainably in a manner that reduces animal welfare issues, and produce compost for home gardens. Stillwater should make this happen.

My experience of backyard chickens is that what owners say they do to maintain a clean and healthful living environment for both animals and people is very different from what they *actually* do. My strong preference would be that we keep the lines clearly drawn on this issue and do not permit backyard chickens within city limits.

Let the people have their chickens. Much less annoying than most dogs. I can understand limiting roosters. I have had backyard chickens before and none of neighbors ever had an issue with them.

Any more, people who keep backyard chickens are those who will care for them as pets. Citizens being able to give the chickens their food waste will also help keep it out of the landfill. The benefits completely outweigh the negatives.

Stillwater is a city here we go again pandering too a few people! Lets reduce property values so people can have chickens! Students will want them so what happens at the end of the semester we will have abandoned chickens roaming around or dying in their cages where they left them. Students cant even bring their trash cans in once a week! Move to a farm or in the country if you want chickens I live in the city to avoid this!

It's just another thing that will have to be policed. People are still getting attacked by loose dogs, how about you figure out how to master that responsibility before opening another can of worms!

I think people with a back yard in the city limits should be able to have no more than 6 chickens. No roosters.

I remember my grandmother raising chickens in town. It was an important way for her to add to her diet and make special dinners for the family. There are some people who will be responsible and some who will be a nuisance.

I have friends in other cities who have chickens, and it doesn't seem to be that big of a deal. I know people in town who would like to have chickens, and as long as it's overseen well by the city and done responsibly, I honestly don't have an issue with it.

I currently live in a rural area of Stillwater where backyard chickens are allowed. I house 15 hens in a 24' x 8' x 8' fully enclosed coop/run. Chickens are creatures of habit and even when out of their coop, they remain in a small area around their home. I know many people who would love to have a small flock in order to provide eggs for their family but city ordinances do not allow them. Roosters are loud and would be an annoyance if in a neighborhood but hens are quiet and habitually put themselves inside their coop at dusk each evening. They are an inexpensive thing to maintain although a proper coop can be expensive to start. The benefits far outweigh any negatives. I hope the city can find a compromise so residetns can choose to provide a healthier and affordable way to provide eggs for their families.

I owned chickens when I lived out in the country and they are a joy. With proper maintenance, the smell is not an issue, and as long as the coops or fences are maintained, there are no safety issues. Please let people have chickens!

I think its a great idea to allow chickens. The city we moved here from allowed them and honestly, even with rosters, they were never as noisy or messy as all of the dogs people had. Plus they provide a bit of food and compost for low income families and provide a hobby for kids to help out with. Good family activity.

Assuming the chickens are well-cared for (and animal cruelty and neglect laws should apply to backyard chickens the same way they apply to other pets/animals), I think backyard chickens are a great idea. People should be able to have access to fresh, nutritious eggs without having to go to the store.

I know several people with chickens in other cities. There really never seems to be a problem.

I am not in favor of allowing chickens at all in the city limits. If people want them, could the city or a private individual have a facility somewhat like a community garden where they could have their own small flock, feed and care for them, but not within the city limits.

I would love to see chickens in people's yards. I'm just concerned about neighbor fights when a dog chases a loose chicken or jumps into someone's chicken yard.

Chickens are good, but people need to be responsible for them like pets.

I’m in favor of responsible owners having chickens and believe a fee for permitting would help ensure that people take the responsibility of animal husbandry seriously

I am happy about people being able to raise chickens as long as we can be considerate neighbors.

I think it’s great! But please speak to people who already own & raise chickens to get their input on what is a reasonable number of chickens & roosters allowable per square foot of backyard space. Chickens should be limited to fenced backyards only, and a max coup size should also be listed that directly correlates with the number of chickens (again, max per sq ft). If seasoned chicken owners mention that roosters are not necessary for keeping egg-laying hens, then roosters should not be allowed.

There's always people who abuse the freedom they have. There would have to be strong policy's in place before this should be allowed.

Why do you believe this needs to be controlled by the government? Just, please for all that is holy and just...please let people have their freedoms.

I think people should be allowed to keep a few chickens in their backyard anywhere in Stillwater

People need more feedoms and less government oppression.

I'm excited the city is considering allowing chickens. I know many people who would take very good care of them. I also love to support local as much as possible and would buy more local eggs from friends.

I just moved from a town that allowed this. It was horrible. You can hear the roosters for miles and they crow nonstop at all hours. Please don't allow people to destroy the peace and quiet for the whole neighborhood.

I have no issues with people raising chickens for personal egg consumption. Numbers would need to be limited to keep smell and parasites to a minimum, but other than that, I see no big issues.

I think thar the option of chickens for people within the city limits is a good idea.

Most of the concerns listed in the survey are myths that are believed because of media. The facts are chicken carry no more diseases than dogs or cats. There hasn’t been a case of Avian Flue in US in 20+ years and humans can’t contract it. There were approximately 90 cases of salmonella poisoning from backyard chickens last year according to the CDC. That’s 90 out of the 500 billion people liv8ng in the United States. The CDC states all cases were related to not washing hands. E-Coli bacteria is from standing water, not from chickens. Unless they’re eaten raw. If a breakdown of setting up a chicken coop combined with food and all other expenses were given to the resident when they show interest in having chickens, it would elimate many unwanted animals. So would a permit and chicken house inspections. I’ve asked local farmers and residents about taking abandoned and/or unwanted chickens and I have a list in an excell spreadsheet of ten or more that would take unwanted chickens.

Please do not allow chicken coops in the city limits. We have some residents who don't even take care of their front yards, so it follows that these same people won't take care of their chicken coops. We want to keep Stillwater a nice city, and it won't be nice with smelly, unkept, disease-laden chicken coops. If they want to have chickens, they can move outside the city limits. Thanks.

Please be a foreward-thinking positive and welcoming chicken-friendly town. Other cities which allow chickens are glad they do. People looking to move to Stilly will want this freedom.

People all around have loud dogs, so noise shouldn't be an issue for people regarding chickens. Furthermore, there are lots and lots of hoarders around whose yards and houses are incredibly trashed and unslightly. Chicken coops in people's backyards are not going to be anything compared to the trash and random stuff that some people are allowed to have on their lots.

Make chickens legal, you'll let people have loud anxious dogs and then are worked about how loud hens might be? That doesn't make sense. You let people trash their yards and and pile junk and smelly garbage everywhere, but then are worries about a few hens per household smelling or being dirty? That also makes no sense.

Growing your own food is ethical on every level and should be allowed. If the city allows people to use pesticides on their lawn and gardens, which pollutes our water and causes many other health and environmental issues, they should most definitely allow people a natural way to grow food, control pests, and contribute to soil enrichment.

I use to live (just moved here in 2014) in Denver, CO and people were allowed up to 6 hens and no roosters. It worked totally fine in Denver. Stillwater can easily do something similar. And they should. Chickens are no big deal :).

I think it is a wonderful opportunity to educate children and adults about these incredible birds. Kids can learn responsibilities of care, the yearly cycle of egg production and moult, keeping them clean. With roosters, they can see how he protects hens. Many people live the sounds of the roosters, which IMHO is more pleasant than barking dogs. Chickens are a prey species and have very different needs than the predator species. Yes, people get VERY attached to their birds. They will need to understand that as chicken pets age, they still need love and care, just like other pets. (BTW, WalMart carries chicken diapers for house chickens. If that's where WM is, chickens are becoming mainstream.)

I think people should be allowed to have chickens in their backyards....

As long as the coops are kept clean and fee's are FAIR & REASONABLE for the people to raise them for butcher or eggs. I believe it is only right for those wanting to raise them. Not for fighting roosters. Food only. Be great for the 4 H & FFA students that need to be able to grow and study. If they want to be part of such organizations, live in town and haven't access to land or animals.

Do not require owners to clip chickens' wings! It is inhumane. Require coops and proper ways to keep them from leaving the backyard. I support letting people have backyard chickens in a responsible, respectful and safe manner.

Educating people on backyard chickens is the key element in moving forward with backyard chickens. If the coops are kept clean there is no smell and flock size can help limit disease issues. 3 - 5 chickens in a backyard is very reasonable. I agree they should not be allowed to roam the neighborhood, but having fresh eggs is really important to a lot of people in this era and it's time Stillwater starting moving forward with the times.