The Great Chicken Debate 2010

[Larry OKC]

On a lighter note...what are everyone's thoughts on the Great Chicken Debate (interesting discussion about it during the last Council meeting).

[Doug Loudenback]

I've missed this great debate. Can you elaborate, Larry?

[SkyWestOKC]

Without reading anything here, Eischen's.

[blangtang]

I planted 3 packets of chicken seeds in my backyard garden this spring. Still waiting for them to sprout...

[Larry OKC]

Doug,

Sorry, I didn't mean to be so cryptic. I haven't seen the whole Council meeting, but apparently there are those in some neighborhoods that want to get the ordinance changed so they can raise chickens in the city limits (already allowed in some of the more rural areas).

[Larry OKC]

^^^
Funny...goes into the Mayor (a self admitted City boy) when he was on News 9's morning show earlier this week...used the phrase "growing" chickens (then corrected)

[Larry OKC]

SkyWestOKC: Another good one...by the way, someone has jacked with your avatar and turned it the wrong way (LOL)

[ljbab728]

SkyWestOKC: Another good one...by the way, someone has jacked with your avatar and turned it the wrong way (LOL)

You mean the horns aren't supposed to point down?

[SkyWestOKC]

Hook 'Em Horns!

[EBAH]

ohhh man, not the urban chicken folks again......

[betts]

I'm fine with a few chickens in a backyard, as long as people care for and house them properly. I'm not sure how I'd feel about a rooster next door if he crowed at 6 a.m. on a Saturday, but I'm fine with the concept. I know Atlanta allows chickens, and I think other cities do too. I like the idea of beekeeping in the city as well.

[metro]

But in order for Chickens to lay eggs, they have to have a Rooster, so more than likely betts, roosters will be allowed.

[Will]

But in order for Chickens to lay eggs, they have to have a Rooster, so more than likely betts, roosters will be allowed.

No they don't. You would need roosters if you want fertilized eggs to hatch chicks, but hens lays eggs without roosters.

[soonerguru]

no they don't. You would need roosters if you want fertilized eggs to hatch chicks, but hens lays eggs without roosters.

lol!

[soonerguru]

but in order for chickens to lay eggs, they have to have a rooster, so more than likely betts, roosters will be allowed.

lol!

[EBAH]

Man, I have to admit, I am young, liberal, all for like, farm to table, grow/eat local stuff, and on and on. However, I would HATE having chickens next door. If you want to raise chickens in the city, establish a community farm space, or coop of some kind on land that is not residential. If you want to raise chickens in your backyard, move to choctaw, harrah, or some other place where it is perfectly legal. Im sure they have people who show up at rural city council meetings and bitch and moan because their neighbor raise chickens. They are probably told some version of, "well, sir/madam, this is a rural community, and raising chickens is a way of life out here, if you dont like it, you should consider moving to the city." So, the opposite should remain true of the city. I mean, there are just certain things that city regulations prohibit because they just seem kind of silly in the city limits. We are perfectly happy having a ban on fireworks, and having a miniature chicken farm next door (which is VERY close to me in the inner city) seems like a comparable aggravation.

[Eep]

I'd just assume not have them around personally. There's the smell, the feathers, and the noise. That's something that needs to stay rural. If you want to "raise" things that don't grow out of the ground, then you need to be out in a rural area.

Man, I have to admit, I am young, liberal, all for like, farm to table, grow/eat local stuff, and on and on. However, I would HATE having chickens next door. If you want to raise chickens in the city, establish a community farm space, or coop of some kind on land that is not residential.

This is a hard one for me, because I agree with the above sentiments. I live very close to downtown, and my neighbors are close enough that any chickens they were to acquire might as well be considered a "feature" of my back yard. Would people be allowed to slaughter and pluck them there too? Do not want.

However, there are plenty of places that are still located within the city limits where the lots are big enough that you wouldn't even be able to tell if your neighbors had a few chickens. And even in more concentrated areas, if someone's neighbors are all on board, why should I care? I wonder if some happy medium could be found where they weren't completely prohibited, but permission would be restricted to situations where they wouldn't create a disturbance. Probably wishful thinking. :-P

[ljbab728]

I grew up on a farm with many chickens around and, I promise you, they do smell and they do make big messes. That's besides the noise.

[bombermwc]

I'd just assume not have them around personally. There's the smell, the feathers, and the noise. That's something that needs to stay rural. If you want to "raise" things that don't grow out of the ground, then you need to be out in a rural area.

[kevinpate]

I think it would make for some funny commercials to have urban chickens pitch the Kia cars instead of the current crop of rodents.

[Larry OKC]

They indicated at the Council meeting that roosters would still NOT be permitted.

[MikeOKC]

Believe it or not, this is a hot new urban trend. It's a part of the "new minimalism" and all of that.

[bombermwc]

Farmer's markets folks. If you order the stuff online (like through email), it's considered direct purchasing so it's tax free. When you get it from them at the actual farmer's market, you aren't tax exempt...they usually figure it in. We've bought grass fed lean hamburger that way....guess what, it's just as cheap and better for you, than the lean at Crest.

There are chicken folks too, so don't assume it's not out there. You just have to know where to get it. Eggs are ALLLLL over the place too.

[Larry OKC]

Farmer's markets folks. If you order the stuff online (like through email), it's considered direct purchasing so it's tax free. When you get it from them at the actual farmer's market, you aren't tax exempt...they usually figure it in. We've bought grass fed lean hamburger that way....guess what, it's just as cheap and better for you, than the lean at Crest.

There are chicken folks too, so don't assume it's not out there. You just have to know where to get it. Eggs are ALLLLL over the place too.

If you are buying from within Oklahoma you should be paying the regular sales tax (just as you would at the Farmer's Market or grocery store.

Are you talking about buying from an individual person (like buying produce off the back of a farmers truck) in which case the rules may be different, or are you talking about from some business with a website etc?

If you are buying from out of state, if that state doesn't have its own sales tax, you are supposed to be paying what is called the Use Tax (usually described as applying to business purchases, but applies to everyone). While not paid at the point of sale, you are supposed to report and pay it on your State income tax. This is a decades old law, but most didn't know about it and there wasn't anyplace on the standard forms to pay for it. The state fixed that "problem" a couple of years ago, and it is there now. Unless you claim that you didn't make ANY taxable purchases (under tax penalties/fines etc) you can either come up with exact amounts from your receipts or the State has come up with a handy formula based on your income to determine the tax. Of course it is up to you to use whichever method ends up with the lower tax liability.

[Urban Pioneer]

If they can't fly because their wings are clipped, I say allow it. I would trade chickens any day for my neighbors yammering terrier.