Posts Tagged ‘legislation’

Support Legislation in Favor of Humane Living Conditions for Laying Hens


Help Improve the Lives of Laying Hens

Congress is now considering legislation (H.R. 3798) that would improve the lives of hundreds of millions of egg-laying hens in our country—and you can help! The Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012 would phase-in significantly more space plus environmental enrichments for these birds, as well as ban starvation molting and give consumers more information about production methods right on the egg carton (e.g., labeling “eggs from caged hens” and “eggs from cage-free hens”).

TAKE ACTION
Please make a brief, polite phone call to your U.S. Representative, urging co-sponsorship of the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012, (H.R. 3798). Then, make a brief, polite call to your two U.S. senators to support this legislation as well. Look up your legislators’ phone numbers here.

Please also use the form below to send a follow-up note to your federal legislators urging support for H.R. 3798. We encourage you to add your own thoughts or comments about this legislation in the editable portion, so your federal legislators know how important this issue is to you personally.

Taken from the Humane Society’s website.

Information Useful in Amending Chicken-Keeping Ordinances


Folks often call me about changing their city’s chicken legislation, and I can provide some ideas, tips, and pointers. This Chicago Chicken Enthusiasts page is a great source of information on changing city codes and engaging in debates around keeping chickens. This page contains:

  • Model municipal codes (Illinois and other states)
  • Response to common concerns about chicken-keeping in an urban setting
  • Draft ordinance for Chicago

Check out the rest of the info on the site, too!

Lombard, IL, Considers Chickens


I answered my phone yesterday and found myself speaking to a reporter from the Lombard Daily Herald. It seems Lombard residents have caught the chicken bug (not to be confused with avian flu) and are working to get their city council to consider allowing backyard fowl! Let’s hope that Lombard’s efforts have the same effect as Evanston’s! Check out the Daily Herald article here.

Read more about Evanston’s successful efforts: Evanston Debates Chicken Ordinance, Chickens now allowed to roost in Evanston!

More on backyard chickens in urban areas: Chicagoland’s Chicken Population: For the ‘Burbs? Are Hens Right for Your City? 5 Reasons for Urban Chickens, Reasons to Raise Chickens

The bottom line, in the opinion of the urban chicken consultant, is education. A well-informed chicken-keeping populace makes decisions that are better for the neighbors, the hens, and the city. Education goes a long way in convincing city council that this is a valid and worthwhile prospect.

Thinking about chickens? Join me for the Backyard Chicken Basics class on 11/6!