Dirk the Turkey Gets Cold Shoulder From ZBA, Cannot Move to Manchester

MANCHESTER — Dirk the Turkey will not be moving to town.

That's because the zoning board of appeals has denied a woman's request to keep a pet turkey at her home on Broad Street, the Hartford Courant reported.

Mary Teixeira had sought a variance in zoning rules to allow Dirk, her female domestic turkey, to live at her house.

At its meeting Wednesday,the board approved Teixeira's application by a 3-2 vote, but the count needed to be 4-1 to take effect.

Last year, zoning officials approved rules allowing residents to keep up to 12 chicken hens, provided they are adequately sheltered from the elements and predators. In residential areas other animals that could be considered livestock are banned, except pot-bellied pigs.

Dirk has been staying with a friend in Montville.

See the full Courant story here.