Bloomfield is committed to becoming more "green," which includes increasing sustainability. Allowing residents to keep chickens would help that goal. Chicken waste can be recycled right into the compost pile or into gardens as fertilizer. It is high in nitrogen, excellent for soil improvement, potassium, etc.

One hen can produce 300 eggs per year, at about 2-3 eggs per day. Raising chickens is educational for children as well as saving a household $350 a year and creating a sense of food security. Noise from chickens never goes over 40 decibels.

An ordinance would need to be approved to allow this practice, which is already permitted in neighboring towns such as Montclair and Belleville. Suggested criteria for ordinance would include:

Benchmark of 3 hens per household.
No roosters permitted.
No sales of eggs (then would be subject to agricultural laws)
No slaughtering of chickens on property (can take them to slaughterhouse with a permit from the agricultural department)
Establish standards for coops
Feeding equipment must be kept off ground to deter rodents

Please sign the petition if you support this initiative and share with your friends!