Teen Petitions To Change Cheshire’s Zoning Laws To Raise Chickens

CHESHIRE, CT — A 13-year-old girl is petitioning to have Cheshire’s zoning laws changed to allow more people the opportunity to own and raise chickens, the Meriden Record-Journal reported.

Gracie Thomas is a seventh-grade student and Girl Scout who is homeschooling this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. She has launched an online petition at Change.org looking to have Cheshire’s zoning regulations changed to allow residents who live on half an acre or less to own chickens.

The Record-Journal reports Cheshire’s zoning laws were changed in 2009 to allow chickens on 2 acres of land, the previous rules required 3 acres.

“Chickens are very beneficial not only to the environment but also to people who own them,” Thomas wrote in the petition. “Please join me in signing this petition to change this town for the better! Thank you for your time!”

Thomas also created a Google slideshow to make her case on why people should be allowed to have chickens.

“Chickens are great for reducing ticks and other insect pest! (ticks are a huge problem in Cheshire),” she wrote in the presentation. “They also produce great fertilizer for your garden! (more people are gardening since the pandemic)

“Their fresh organic eggs are much better for you then anything you can purchase at the store! (much healthier to!)

“Watching Chickens roam is proven to be very relaxing (especially under these stressful times)

“Chickens are low maintenance pets that give back to their owners

“They just make people HAPPY!"

The petition has garnered more than 530 signatures as of Monday.

For more information, visit the petition at Change.org here.

To read the full story at the Meriden Record-Journal, click here.