Hi! I am a new resident and neighbor in the beautiful town of Poolesville, Maryland. I've been keeping hens for more than 12 years in states where I have lived, such as Westport, CT, Los Angeles, CA, and Rockville, MD. I recently learned that even though we are in a rural community, surrounded by 93,000 acres of an Agricultural Reserve filled with farms, we are not allowed to keep a few hens in our backyards.

I understand that this is an ongoing debate, with a history of a pigeon "hoarder" being the catalyst to change the zoning in town, prohibiting residents to keep poultry if you live on less than 2 acres. I invite you to sign this petition if you believe this law is outdated and think that we should be allowed to keep a few hens as pets in a responsible, sanitary and safe manner. Below is information that will educate us about backyard chicken keeping, as well as separate fact from fiction:

• Regarding sustainability and animal welfare concerns, home raised hens living in spacious, clean conditions produce eggs that are fresher, better tasting and often more nutritious than their commercially farmed counterparts. Raising chickens also promotes the humane treatment of food-producing animals and a local, sustainable food system.
• Chickens kept as pets provide companionship, entertainment, stress reduction, and comic relief. They are not livestock that are relegated to the soup pot when they are injured or stop laying eggs.
• Chickens have been selectively bred to cultivate domesticated behavior traits, as well as to provide a colorful egg basket. My hens have names and are loved for their fun, endearing personalities and interactions.
• Pet chickens are routinely used as therapy animals for individuals with a wide array of emotional, physical, and other life challenges, as well as visitors to the elderly in hospitals and retirement homes.
• Let's debunk the myth that chickens are dirty and smelly! Chickens spend their days dust bathing and meticulously preening themselves to maintain good hygiene. Chickens do not smell - animal waste smells. When managed properly, no odors emanate from a yard in which a few chickens are kept.
• Chickens are green pets. They eat a wide variety of weeds and disease-carrying insects, like ticks. Chickens produce nitrogen-rich waste that can be used as a natural garden fertilizer.
• Hens are not ordinarily noisy and intermittent daytime noises are a normal part of living in any community. Any concerns about chicken noises should be addressed in the same manner other noise complaints are addressed, including barking dog noise.

There’s a lot of time, thought, love, and work put into this hobby. We take pride in our yards, our pets, and the food they produce. I believe we should encourage sensible regulations to allow residents in Poolesville to keep a few hens as pets.

Thank you for signing this petition!