Backyard Hens in Arlington, MA

1. Backyard Hens in Arlington, MA

2. Why Hens? Superior Taste Better nutrition Cost Savings Fertilizer Reduce Kitchen Waste Reduce bugs and pests! Chickens make great pets Education Humane treatment of animals Food security Sustainability Taste - Fresh eggs taste better – flavor degrades with refrigeration and over time. Better nutrition - hens that have access to the outdoors and a varied diet are healthier and produce eggs with more nutrients. Cost - Backyard eggs (and almost any food you grow yourself) are cheaper. Feed is very cheap.  Fertilizer - Composted chicken litter can be used in gardens and will reduce chemical fertilizer use and runoff from lawns. Reduce Waste - Chickens can eat left over kitchen scraps, helping to reduce trash output. Reduce pests! Chickens eat ticks, mosquitoes, and other annoying bugs. Chickens make great pets – they have individual personalities and are very interested in people. Education - Having hens in the neighborhood would provide educational opportunities for children to really understand where food comes from. Humane treatment of animals - Backyard hens would be better cared for and healthier than industrial cage-reared chickens. Food security - local food production is important in case of significant, prolonged economic downturn, or significant increase in transportation costs. Sustainability - local food is better for the environment, the more local the better. Taste - Fresh eggs taste better – flavor degrades with refrigeration and over time. Better nutrition - hens that have access to the outdoors and a varied diet are healthier and produce eggs with more nutrients. Cost - Backyard eggs (and almost any food you grow yourself) are cheaper. Feed is very cheap.  Fertilizer - Composted chicken litter can be used in gardens and will reduce chemical fertilizer use and runoff from lawns. Reduce Waste - Chickens can eat left over kitchen scraps, helping to reduce trash output. Reduce pests! Chickens eat ticks, mosquitoes, and other annoying bugs. Chickens make great pets – they have individual personalities and are very interested in people. Education - Having hens in the neighborhood would provide educational opportunities for children to really understand where food comes from. Humane treatment of animals - Backyard hens would be better cared for and healthier than industrial cage-reared chickens. Food security - local food production is important in case of significant, prolonged economic downturn, or significant increase in transportation costs. Sustainability - local food is better for the environment, the more local the better.

3. Think Globally, Act Locally Arlington already does a lot: Recycling Composting Yard Waste Home compost bins Rain Barrels Community Gardens Most food in the US travels vast distances, on average1,500 miles, incurring a carbon cost. (Time Magazine) Home food production reduces carbon emissions Easy and inexpensive Hens take much less space than other protein sources

4. What would it look like?

5. Larger Coops for 4 – 6 hens

6. Implementation in Belmont, MA Information from Belmont’s Animal Control Officer, John Maguranis Allowed as pets, rather than through bylaw changes. 7 permits last year 0 complaints Inspection done by Animal Control Officer under board of health authority. Reports no significant smell from coops. “It’s working out fine.”

7. Spotlight on Belmont Owners

8. Spotlight on Belmont owners Evie Malliris & husband John Beaty Live near Belmont Center in a dense area. Took chicken class at Codman Farms 5 hens, no roosters Converted dog run with coop – hardware cloth and aviary netting to protect against predators Inspection done by Animal Control No problems with neighbors Use hay to control any smells (none perceptible when I was there) Daily work: 15 mins a day Weekly work: 40 mins a week Plenty of eggs to share Water de-icer and draft-free coop provide enough warmth for winter

9. Informal Survey Results Do you support allowing up to 6 hens on residential property in the Arlington town limits?

10. Informal Survey The survey invitation was sent out in a public email to the Arlington mailing list, the Menotomy gardeners list, the Sustainable Arlington list, and was published in the Arlington Advocate.    The survey was hosted by surveymonkey.com, and was limited to one response per computer (by IP address).  Data was gathered anonymously, although people were asked if they were voters in Arlington, and what precinct they lived in.  The benefits/concerns page was randomized when presented to survey-takers.  The results displayed are limited to people who responded they were residents of Arlington, as of 3/1/09.

11. How many people would keep hens?

12. Survey - Top Benefits

13. Survey - Top Concerns

14. Addressing Concerns Noise No Roosters! Hens themselves sound about like pigeons - definitely quieter than dogs. Not barnyard size flocks – pets! Limited numbers of hens – 6 or less. "Perceptible noise from chickens shall not be loud enough at the property boundaries to disturb persons of reasonable sensitivity." Smell Easy to manage odor with small numbers – use hay or mulch. Property setbacks - 5 feet, 25 feet from any neighboring residence. Cleanliness regulations – weekly cleaning required. "Odors from chickens, chicken manure, or other chicken-related substances shall not be perceptible at the property boundaries."

15. Addressing Concerns Predators & Pests Food source is the primary attractor Secure food storage Secure waste storage and disposal Coop/run area must be completely enclosed. "The property owner shall take necessary action to reduce the attraction of predators and rodents and the potential infestation of insects and parasites.  Chickens found to be infested with insects and parasites that may result in unhealthy conditions to human habitation shall be removed by the Animal Control Officer.“

16. Addressing Concerns Disease/Health Purchased hens are already vaccinated for poultry diseases. Avian Flu of the type that is contagious to humans has not been found in North America. Any type of avian influenza is spread by contact with contaminated birds, primarily migratory waterfowl. So the key issues are sanitation and contact with wild birds. Birds must be enclosed. “GRAIN, an international sustainable agriculture group, concluded in a 2006 report: "When it comes to bird flu, diverse small-scale poultry farming is the solution, not the problem." Coop must be cleaned on a weekly basis (less work than a cat box!).

17. Addressing Cost Permit and inspection fees - $25. Fines for re-inspection or violations, under current “Non-criminal Dispositions” clause in animal control ordinance. Probably a low number of applications for a permit - Belmont only had 7 last year, South Portland had 14 permits issued, Newton issued about 20 permits specifically for chickens.

18. What do other towns do? Belmont, MA.  You may keep up to 5 hens on residential lots with a $25 permit.  Inspection required. Newton, MA.  Hens allowed with permit. 10 ft. property setback. No roosters. Permit $25/2 years. Brookline, MA.  (Article 4, table item 57) Poultry is allowed, permit required. 25 animal limit and 100 away from any residence not on the property.  Written notification of abutters required. Lexington, MA. Up to 6 hens allowed on any size lot. Permit required. Watertown, MA. Limit of 12 chickens, ducks or geese, $50 permit fee. Boston, MA. (Ch. 16, Sec 16.18A, Zoning Article 8, Sec 8-7,No. 76) Chickens allowed by permit, fee $20. South Portland, ME. (Ord. Sec.2 7-8.5) - up to 6 hens allowed. No roosters.  Permit required - $25 application fee, $25 for coop inspection. (Portland Press Herald, Sept 7, 2007) Portland, ME. Allowed as of 2/2009 - hens only, no roosters.  Permit required, $25.  Must be at least 20 feet away from neighboring houses and 5ft from property lines. (From the Portland Press Herald 2/19/2009)

19. Comments from Arlington Residents

20. Summary Great Tasting Eggs Good for the Environment Fun Pets Quiet, clean & contained Works for our neighbors Easy to Regulate

21. Thank you!

22. Additional slides

23. Nutrition Matters