Legalize chickens in the Egg Basket of the Midwest!
Legalize chickens in the Egg Basket of the Midwest!
The Issue
Please help make backyard chickens a possibility in Mentone, Indiana, also known as the Egg Basket of Midwest!
Despite the town's title, backyard chickens are currently not allowed within town limits. Even bigger and less rural cities like South Bend and Indianapolis allow chickens.
Not only are backyard chickens a good way to increase food security, chickens and their eggs are a huge part of this town’s culture. It’s about time the everyday townee is allowed to partake in this culture.
As various world issues disrupt the supply chain, many important items have become harder for the everyday American to access. Chicken eggs are a major item greatly affected by these changes. As things like disease at large-scaled operations, climate change, and various other issues in the supply chain threaten food security, it’s time to take charge with what we can control. It’s already been predicted that egg prices will remain high in 2023. There’s even been speculation on there being shortages (https://www.thedailymeal.com/1166891/the-13-food-shortages-to-expect-in-2023/
No food distribution system is perfect, but it never hurts to further diversify our source of food. This is especially important as the US and the rest of the world struggles with moving food where it needs to go.
Chickens also have various other benefits. They can be a convenient way to eliminate pests in a garden or yard, help reduce waste by eating kitchen scraps, make great pets for children, and even help the youth get interested in working in the agriculture industry one day.
To help acknowledge common concerns with allowing backyard flocks and to prevent this potential law being abused, there will likely be a few restrictions. First, the number of chickens allowed will be 6 hens, no roosters. Second, chickens can’t be free ranging without the proper fencing/enclosure. We wouldn’t want them wandering in a neighbor’s yard without permission. Third, to prevent inconveniencing nearby neighbors, coops will need to be a certain distance from other residents. The proposed distance is currently 20 ft. from neighboring houses, similar to what South Bend already does.
140
The Issue
Please help make backyard chickens a possibility in Mentone, Indiana, also known as the Egg Basket of Midwest!
Despite the town's title, backyard chickens are currently not allowed within town limits. Even bigger and less rural cities like South Bend and Indianapolis allow chickens.
Not only are backyard chickens a good way to increase food security, chickens and their eggs are a huge part of this town’s culture. It’s about time the everyday townee is allowed to partake in this culture.
As various world issues disrupt the supply chain, many important items have become harder for the everyday American to access. Chicken eggs are a major item greatly affected by these changes. As things like disease at large-scaled operations, climate change, and various other issues in the supply chain threaten food security, it’s time to take charge with what we can control. It’s already been predicted that egg prices will remain high in 2023. There’s even been speculation on there being shortages (https://www.thedailymeal.com/1166891/the-13-food-shortages-to-expect-in-2023/
No food distribution system is perfect, but it never hurts to further diversify our source of food. This is especially important as the US and the rest of the world struggles with moving food where it needs to go.
Chickens also have various other benefits. They can be a convenient way to eliminate pests in a garden or yard, help reduce waste by eating kitchen scraps, make great pets for children, and even help the youth get interested in working in the agriculture industry one day.
To help acknowledge common concerns with allowing backyard flocks and to prevent this potential law being abused, there will likely be a few restrictions. First, the number of chickens allowed will be 6 hens, no roosters. Second, chickens can’t be free ranging without the proper fencing/enclosure. We wouldn’t want them wandering in a neighbor’s yard without permission. Third, to prevent inconveniencing nearby neighbors, coops will need to be a certain distance from other residents. The proposed distance is currently 20 ft. from neighboring houses, similar to what South Bend already does.
140
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Petition created on January 19, 2023