North DSM News

The Windsor Heights City Council discussed allowing the increased ownership of chickens in the city during a City Council Meeting on Feb. 6.

During an earlier City Council Meeting on Jan. 17, the council discussed the city code regarding residents keeping chickens in their yards. The code allows for two chickens to be kept per property, but some city residents have asked the council to consider raising the limit. During the January meeting, two young residents told the council about their love for raising their own chickens, as well as the negative impact of factory farming on both the birds and the eggs that are sold in grocery stores.

Saying that "birds are a blessing," they asked the council to consider raising the limit to ten chickens per yard.

"To summarize our conversations, ten is a reasonable number as, if the chickens are producing, they can accommodate most, if not all, families," Windsor Heights Mayor Mike Jones said.

The council agreed that two chickens didn't seem to be a feasible or sufficient number for many residents who were interested in raising their own chickens, and they ultimately agreed to consider raising the amount to six before setting a date to vote on it.

During the Feb. 6 meeting, the council mentioned how they had been met with some concern over the issue during the prior month, along with some suggestions to adjust their definitions and restrictions. The updated ordinance would not permit roosters, geese, peacocks or guinea fowl, and would likely only allow chickens and ducks. The council passed the ordinance on again, having it face one more vote before likely being finalized in March.