Lafayette, Indiana--Letter Writing Campaign

[Rethia]

I don't know if any other Lafayette peeps are on here, but if you are, would anyone be willing to join in on a letter writing campaign to your Lafayette councilperson to see if we can get Local Ordinance 2021-27 subsection 10.02.010 amended to allow the backyard ownership of chickens?

Lafayette city council members:
https://www.lafayette.in.gov/646/City-Council

Lafayette council districts:
https://www.tippecanoe.in.gov/DocumentCenter/View/607/2023-Lafayette-City-Council-Districts-PDF

There's been some stuff recently about the World Economic Foundation (WEF) getting involved with, in particular, different city councils to get them to pass ordinances that limit chicken ownership to people with five acres and some such similar rot (believe it or not, it's happened already. Check out Fishers, IN local chicken ordinances. It reads exactly like WEF ordinance propaganda). That is not, however, the case in Lafayette. There, the chicken ban has been established for a while.

Given the increased cost of eggs, the loss of at least three major flocks and egg production centers in Indiana, and the fact that bird flu is a continuing issue, now is a good time to present chicken ownership as an option to the city, particularly considering that Lafayette is largely suburban.

Thoughts?

 

[GodLovesU]

Have you enquired about this in your state thread?

 

[Rethia]

Have you enquired about this in your state thread?

Not yet. I wasn't sure which place might be best to post.

 

[TooCheep]

Here is the Indiana thread. I recommend just asking Lafayette-area people to come here to keep the discussion in one place. This is the best location for the discussion.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/indiana-bycers-here.730582/

 

[Rethia]

Here is the letter I wrote to my councilperson:

Dear Mr. Reynolds,

I was wondering what the process would be to potentially repeal or amend a portion of a local ordinance?

As you likely are aware, the cost of everything has gone up in the last few years and, as such, there has been a surge of interest in basic homesteading topics, such as gardening, food preservation, and chicken ownership. Particularly with the dramatic increase in the cost of eggs cross country.

Right now, local ordinance 2021-27, subsection 10.02.010 prohibits the keeping or breeding of a number of animals, many of which do make sense given the city/suburban setting of much of the city, such as donkeys, horses, llamas, mules, etc.. However, I am having a hard time understanding why chickens are not permitted to be kept in the city limits. If someone isn't keeping roosters (the only type of chicken that makes significant noise), the only reason a neighbor would know someone else keeps chickens would be if they saw them. Chickens are, by breeding, and temperament, not particularly loud unless they are being attacked or disturbed in some way. Dogs make more noise than chickens.

I am very interested in knowing if it would be possible to amend portion 10.02.010 of Local Ordinance 2021-27 to allow for keeping chickens, even if were in a limited capacity, locally. There are a lot of ways that chicken ownership could be allowed that would not be a nuisance to others, such as limiting flock size to 4-5 birds, requiring an enclosure, and not allowing roosters in backyard flocks. Keeping birds would increase food security for flock owners and, as with backyard gardens, they often will help foster community when some owners share during times of excess.

I appreciate your time and your service as council member! Looking forward to hearing back. Thanks!

Regards