Walton decides: Chickens or no chickens?

Above: H.P. and Wellington, a couple of the Watershed Post's resident (legal) backyard chickens. Photo by Lissa Harris.

In today's Walton Reporter: The village of Walton, where no chicken may legally roost, is debating whether to allow backyard poultry.

The story (subscription required) quotes several local chicken advocates:

Village resident Laura Scherer spoke in favor of changing the code. Scherer is in favor of code revision and cited research that she has done regarding neighboring communities who allow husbandry. "I spoke to the village of Franklin, and there is no code governing livestock there." Scherer suggested revising the code to include a permitting process for poultry owners, a cap on the number of birds kept (she suggested six) and a possible ruling against roosters since they are not required for egg production. Scherer said, "The number of children in the village who are involved in 4-H is awesome." She referred to the requirements of 4-H members raising and caring for their own animals.

As a topic for local municipal lawmakers, chickens are so hot right now. This May, the Ulster County town of New Paltz began discussing the chicken question:

The request for changes was discussed during a Town Board meeting...when resident Tova Weitzman said having chickens would help families reduce budgets by having a supply of eggs.

“If the voice of many people in this community is for sustainability and the economics of the family finds that collecting eggs saves them some money instead of driving to the farms and buying there it, should be factored into the consideration,” she said.

And back in March, the city of Kingston -- where tractors are a far less common sight on Main Street than they are in Walton -- debated whether chicken-keeping ought to be allowed in city code, which is ambiguous on the topic. So far, Kingston's resident hens remain in legal limbo.