Blacksburg zoning codes do not allow hens in residential areas.  Here are some practical reasons for allowing hens:

Fresh eggs. A happy laying hen will lay one egg per day for about 300 days a year. That's plenty of eggs to eat and plenty of high-quality protein to give away.

Reduce your carbon footprint.  Chickens eat just about anything, give them your leftovers instead of tossing them in the garbage.

Chicken compost  is a natural complement to your home garden.Chicken droppings are high in nitrogen and make excellent fertilizer for your garden. 

Chickens are an environmentally friendly insecticide. They will hunt and peck around your yard cleaning up the bugs for as long as you let them.  If you make a chicken tractor you can put them to work anywhere in your yard.

Kids Learn First Hand About Food Production Young children love caring for animals; collecting eggs, feeding and cleaning the pen are things they can do.  And when kids help care for chickens they see the very beginnings of where food comes from. 

We would like Blacksburg Town Council to amend the zoning codes to allow: 

• No more than 6 chickens per household(greatly reduce the chance of attracting pests and 3 chickens produce more than enough eggs for a family of 4).

• NO ROOSTERS (its just not neighborly or necessary, hens do not need roosters to produce eggs).  Hens cluck gently, far quieter than a barking dog.

• Hens must be kept securely penned or fenced  at ALL times Fences protect your hens from vermin, predators, and diseases spread by wild birds.  Chicken tractors are a humane, safe way to keep healthy hens.   It can be moved around a small yard to help with climate control and cleaning. 

Ask the Town Council to amend the zoning code to allow backyard hens.