Letter to the Editor: Chickens have no place in town limits

Dear Editor,

We are writing this letter in opposition to the “chicken ordinance” being considered by the Lovell City Council. We feel that livestock should not be allowed in the Lovell city limits. If we wanted to have livestock on our place, we would have purchased property in the country.  We chose to invest in a home within the city limits for many reasons, but one of them was that livestock is not allowed.

The presence of chickens will most certainly attract other animals such as skunks, racoons, mountain lions, etc. You can expect an increase in the number of flies, and the possibility of disease (bird flu) also is greater. The noise and smell of chickens, especially to close neighbors, could lead to unfriendly tensions between them.

The cost of an egg is high, but the cost of feeding chickens is also high. Chickens would have to be kept in a coop and would not be able to “free range” for food, so there is no alternative than to feed them. Having chicken feed would also increase the number of rodents, like mice and rats, in town.

We do not believe the council could stipulate, or regulate, enough guidelines to make the ordinance palatable to most Lovell citizens. Enforcement is another issue that will be added to the already stretched resources of the town.

We do not believe that most town residents want to allow chickens, or any livestock, within the town limits. If that is the case, then the council should not pass an ordinance allowing chickens to be within the city limits. Please consider the majority of residents here in Lovell as you consider this issue.

There is an argument that other nearby towns allow chickens and because they do, the town of Lovell should. We feel this is an inappropriate argument. Here in Lovell, we will do what is best for the majority of residents within our city boundaries. We hope that our limited resources will be put to the best use, covering the many functions the town is already responsible for. 

Mark and Jennifer Leonhardt