Family Seeks Repeal of Chicken Ban in Teaneck

The backyard chicken movement has moved the neighboring town of Teaneck. New Milford's Jeff DelVecchio has been a strong voice in trying to have the Board of Health's 1968 ordinance prohibiting chickens lifted. However, despite his appeals to the Mayor and Council, the Board of Health ordinance still stands.

Now a Teaneck family is hoping to have Teaneck's ban on raising backyard chickens repealed. 

Ita Barak and her son, Yoni, recently made their case to allow residents to raise the birds at a township council meeting. Sustainability and a steady supply of healthy food were some of the reasons cited to allow the birds in Teaneck backyards. 

"The backyard chicken is one large step to sustainable living," Yoni told council members. 

The eggs, he said, are healthier and allow residents to lessen their carbon footprint since they don't require pollution-generating transportation. 

"It's great for your pocket book, you can save lots of money to be parked back into the local economy," he said.  

Special breeds of quiet chicken are available and the birds don't spread disease, he added.  

New Milford resident Jeffrey DelVecchio, who works at the Teaneck Department of Public Works, told Patch he plans to continue his fight to keep hens after being hit with fines for violating the borough's poultry restriction. 

"My intention was to raise the hens to supply my family with fresh eggs. Organic, locally grown food is a very important part of our lives," he said in an e-mail. "I have not given up the fight, although I don't quite know where to go from here."

Nearby towns have varying approaches to backyard chickens. In Franklin Lakes, the birds are allowed if residents obtain permits and follow borough regulations. Paterson, like Teaneck, bans the chickens. 

In Bloomfield, an effort was organized to push for allowing chickens. Advocates have argued the birds can offer natural pest control, among a host of benefits.

What do you think? Should residents be allowed to raise chickens?