October 01, 2006
Westbrook's chicken controversy

I am sad to hear about the Westbrook chicken situation. As much as a pain in the behind as the Almeida flock can be at times, they really are family pets and I can't imagine being told we had to get rid of them.

    Ledoux has kept a small flock of chickens in his backyard for about 10 years. His family and neighbors enjoy the fresh eggs, and his children treat the birds like pets, calling them by name.

    Ledoux says it's soothing for him to simply watch his chickens cluck and preen. But a neighbor who finds the chickens nerve-wracking and recently complained to the city that they're too noisy and smelly.

Even when a dog got loose and ate one of our chickens, we handled things amicably with our neighbors. No one wants to live in a place where people can't act like adults and work out their differences.

With city officials now involved in Westbrook, I'm not sure anyone will really "win" in the end.

Posted by Wendy Almeida at 11:50 AM
Comments

Wow! I had no idea this was happening. How aggravating! I hope the Town Council does the right thing by these people and allows them to keep their chickens. If the Town Council would do a little research, they would, undoubtedly, find that hand-raised, urban chickens are wonderful pets, and incredibly beneficial, for the eggs they provide for the family, for pest control in the yard and garden, and for the highly nutrient rich fertilizer. I know my "organic" garden was virutally bug free this year, thanks to my chickens ;).

Posted by Wendy B.
October 1, 2006 03:16 PM

I can't believe they ruled that way. I actually happened on the city council meeting for this on public access a few weeks ago - this guy has had his chicken fenced in for over 10 years - simply a hobby. Neighborhood kids come over and watch the chicks hatch. Now his neighbor who keeps bees can't do that because the chicken guy's neighbor had him closed down on the premise he is farming. Ridiculous. I don't think this guys chickens have even strayed from his yard since he has been doing it. I feel like if I complained about my neighbors dog who poops on my lawn, I may be forced to get rid of my own dog. The town is losing site of what makes a community a community. The council meetings also often wreak of special interest. I think it is the council that is too noisy and smelly.

Posted by Steve
October 2, 2006 12:28 PM

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