Backyard Chickens

Allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Jeffrey DelVecchio, I live in New Milford along with my wife, Brooke, and my sons: Anthony, Benjamin, and Christopher.  We have been residents of New Milford for over 11 years.  Our 8 year old son, Anthony, is a third grader at the Berkley Street School, a member of Cub Scout Pack 78, and a soccer player.  Our 5 year old son, Benjamin, attends preschool in Dumont with his 2 year old brother, Christopher.  Benjamin is looking forward to playing tee ball in the spring.

Two years ago I had 45 solar panels installed on my roof to provide my family with clean energy.  Since that time, my wife and I have taken many steps towards leading a healthier and more Earth friendly life for ourselves and our 3 children.  Some of the steps we have taken include: drinking organic milk, eating organic produce, growing our own seasonal vegetables, installing an ultra low flush toilet and converting 2 existing toilets to dual flush, building and installing 5 rain barrels to collect rain water to water our gardens, installing energy efficient lighting, air sealing our house and having it additionally insulated, purchasing a 2004 Toyota Prius and adding a plug-in hybrid conversion system to increase fuel mileage by at least 50%, composting, recycling everything we can ( I bring plastics that are not recycled by the Borough to my place of employment for recycling there), and using biodegradable diapers. 

After much research, I decided to add raising chickens for fresh eggs to my list of green endeavors.  I purchased 6 one week old hens on April 30, 2011.  I built them an escape and predator proof enclosure.  The chickens are fed a diet of organic feed and kitchen scraps and their water comes from our rain barrels.  Their coop is cleaned at least monthly and the soiled bedding is composted for future use in the garden.  The coop is located 2 feet from the back wall of our house, no less than 30 feet from any property line, and obscured from view by the bamboo growing along our Southern and Western property lines.  The chickens are currently providing us with an average of 4 eggs per day.

On September 24, 2011, I received a violation notice form the Borough health department dated September 20, 2011.  The notice stated I had to remedy the following conditions: Unlicensed dogs and Poultry on property ( No poultry is permitted to be kept in the Borough ).  I had never thought that keeping chickens would be prohibited.  I called the inspector, Jill Scarpa and she gave us a 2 week extension to get the dogs licensed and 1 month to address the chickens.  I asked Jill why I received the notice and she told me that a neighbor reported that I had the chickens.  I asked all of my neighbors whose property touches mine if they had contacted the health department and they all said no.  I only asked because I wanted to see if my chickens were causing any problems for them.  In response to the violation notice, the dogs were licensed as required. 

As for the chickens, I sent a letter to the borough administrator in October.  At the November 14, 2011 mayor and council work session I was told to direct this matter to the Board of Health. I attended the December 7, 2011 meeting of the board to formally introduce myself and discuss this matter.  I requested that the ordinance prohibiting the keeping of chickens be amended to allow for the raising of up to 6 hens for noncommercial egg production.  Backyard chickens make very little noise as long as there are no roosters present.  The enclosure they are in is predator proof and as such, also rodent proof.  Their feed is kept in my garage where it will not attract rats or other vermin.  The eggs that they produce are healthier than store bought eggs.  My wife is my son’s Cub Scout den leader and we have used the chickens to demonstrate how to be more self sufficient.  Our chickens are like pets to us and my 5 year old loves helping to feed them. They enjoy eating fresh picked clover out of his hands.  Of course, we always wash our hands after handling the chickens as we would with any small pet.  On Tuesday, January 10, 2012, I received a letter from the Board of Health denying my request to have to ordinance changed and I have 45 days to get rid of the chickens.  No explanation for the denial was given.  It is my intention to continue fighting for the right to provide my family with fresh, healthy eggs from my own backyard.  The chickens do not bother anybody and provide no health hazard.  Contrary to what some people think, they do not smell and are not noisy. 

The keeping of backyard chickens has become a national movement and many communities have changed their ordinances to allow residents to keep small flocks of chickens.  Currently, 94 of the top 100 cities (by population), allow the keeping of chickens.  I have a Facebook page, New Milford Residents for Sustainability, where I post links to articles about recently enacted chicken laws from across the country.  I would love to hear what other people have to say about this subject; good, bad, or otherwise.



Jeff