Feathers Ruffled in Bangor Chicken Ordinanace Debate

[Submariner]

Any broody hen, while in her nest on eggs, will commonly peck me when I disturb her.

As it happens for the past 3 weeks I have been going through our coops and culling two birds every day; for the stew pot, to be cooked down and canned both meat and broth. We have four different breeds of chickens, from which I have been culling a few hens and a few roosters.

None of them want to be caught. Initially all of them will flap and make a scene at being caught. Once they realize they are caught, they all settle down, they become very docile and can be pet. So far only about a third of the roosters have displayed any 'fight' at all, and that has been when I am catching one of their ladies.

I have seen chickens catch and eat: frogs, salamanders, mice and snakes.

It takes a very specific set of circumstances for any of them to act 'vicious'.

[OutDoorNut]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

It takes a very specific set of circumstances for any of them to act 'vicious'.

Don't kid yourself.

http://www.cyclecranks.com/images/BikerChicks_0.jpg

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[Maineac]

I've got a problem with $25 for a "permit." That's a little ridiculous. Might as well buy the eggs. That said, I've got "feral" chickens all around where I'm at. It's the rooster's that'll drive you crazy. But after awhile it's just part of the background noise. Don't live in town and have all the chickens you want.

[BrokenTap]

Issues like this will only get worse as society gets farther and farther away from farm life. Gone are the days when people had grandparents that lived on a farm and experienced "feral chickens" as was described in an earlier post. (Just normal chicken behavior for what it is worth).

Myself, I think Maine is now one of the better, proactive farm states and I think it is ridiculous that people...no matter where they live, must put up with these ordanances. I personally think it is great that people are getting chickens even if they do live in Camden or Bangor. If nothing else they will realize that farm life, (even on a diminutive scale), is tough and will have much greater respect for farmers. We need all the help we can get as far as image and advacacy goes.

Even if someone only has enough land to grow a dozen vegies and raise chickens, at least they are contributing to the food supply in their on small way. That is very noble rather then doing what most suburbanites do...only take from the food supply and use more fertilizer and more acres of land to grow lawns instead of food. I bet the poor people of Haiti wished they had more chickens and a whole lot less lawns right now!

Jesh...animals make noise and smell stinky...oh my!