We are looking to update the North Huntingdon, PA township chicken ordinance (#765 Article 8 Section 811.1). Currently, the way that it is written, it states that to own chickens on your property your land must be a farm. "Farms and Livestock Area Requirements: R-2/20 acres, R-3/15 Acres, and R-4/10 Acres. Any housing or feeding structures shall be centrally located and in all cases shall be located a minimum of 250 feet from property lines." We are trying to have this revised to a much smaller lot requirement to be more in line with what Pittsburgh, Penn Township, Forest Hills, Edgewood Boro (Regent Square), Bethel Township, and even Mt. Lebanon currently have. 

We have a small flock of 5 chickens (who are more our pets than "livestock" or a food source) and were cited as being out of compliance with this ordinance. Our girls love them and play with them daily – especially during quarantine when we were unable to spend time with friends or family.

We understand that there is a large population in North Huntingdon that would like to have their own chickens and we are looking to you for your support! 

Please keep in mind the following pieces about free range / backyard chickens:

They are great for getting rid of ticks and other insects such as mosquitos, grubs, fleas, and stink bugs. Did you know that one chicken can eat up to 90 ticks/hour? This is a great benefit when considering the spread of Lyme disease and having children that play in our yard.

The chickens have taken great care of our yard (aside from the ticks) in that they are great at cleaning up weeds that may grow around our swimming pool and our fence line. 

They provide various health benefits. “Free-range chickens are known for producing eggs that are much more nutritionally dense than the eggs laid by caged hens. According to one study conducted in 2007, free-range eggs are a much healthier choice in a lot of specific ways. This study showed that compared to eggs from battery-caged hens, eggs from free-range hens contained: ⅓ less cholesterol, ¼ less saturated fat, ⅔ more vitamin A, 2 times more omega-3, 3 times more vitamin E, 7 times more beta-carotene”. They don’t disrupt hormones (which is incredibly important when considering the fact that children are reaching puberty younger and younger. These health benefits are hugely important to us as parents. 

There is concern about noise from the chickens. The chickens make very minimal noise. Roosters are not needed for egg production – this is a large misconception among people, it is only to create other chicks. The average noise a hen makes is comparable to a normal human conversation while a barking dog is much greater.

Chickens are safer than many dogs. Our birds do not mind or even react in any way (other than maybe walking away) when people come over to look at them.  Many dogs would be barking and jumping at anyone they do not know.

People have expressed concern that having chickens could impact home values around those who have them. The home behind us with adjoining backyard sold within a week (maybe less) with multiple offers without an agent.

During the Covid 19 pandemic, we have been able to be self-sufficient (not needing eggs) and putting further strain on the grocery stores when they have been unable to keep certain products in stock including eggs. We have also been able to share our eggs (NOT SOLD) with neighbors who have needed them.

Many are looking to move toward a more self-sustaining and organic lifestyle and it is more progressive even though in the past it may have been seen as regressive to have chickens in a community. Similar affluent communities such as Bethel Park, Edgewood Boro (Regent Square), and Mt. Lebanon have ordinances that allow people to have them (many with less yard space than what we have in North Huntingdon) as well as Pittsburgh in the city limits (again with much less space than we have here).

As for the possibility of attracting hawks and other vermin, small puppies and other animals and roadkill can bring out these types of “critters”. It would be no different to have a puppy in the yard to have chickens. In cases of attracting vermin – if someone is not maintaining their coop/run, it would be in violation of the proposed updated ordinance. They can also be attracted to gardens, garbage, or other food that is left outside.

We ask that for all of the above reasons, that you please sign this petition and show your support for North Huntingdon to revise the current ordinance to allow many others partake in all of the benefits of having their own chickens. Thank you for your support!