Foxes, Coyotes, and Rats Oh, My! Foxes, Coyotes, and Rats Oh, My! Do you want these predators in your yard?

Before you sign to allow chickens in Pottstown, we need to start facing the facts about raising chickens. Although chickens were once a way of life due to the need, especially during the great depression, they are no longer a need for survival in this town. Organic eggs can be found in many stores or from local farmers just a short trip away to the rural area of Pottstown which carries the zip code 19465. Our current ordinance began many years ago for the following reasons; Chickens attract rats. Which breed rapidly and bring disease. Chickens attract fox, which also brings disease and a danger to our pets. Foxes have already been seen frequently on Adams St, allowing chickens would only add to this problem. If chickens are allowed. It's only a matter of time until foxes catch on and are here to stay once they realize the food supply has increased. More chickens, more Fox. Nobody can predict which ones and how many carry rabies and other diseases, which has been cited recently by Animal Control Officer Daywalt. That means your family and domestic pets could become a victim to rabid animal attacks. Foxes attracted by chickens will also increase the predators of these animals such as coyotes. These animals will follow the food supply and migrate from Upper Pottsgrove into our borough. By the way, chicken manure is loaded with ammonia at a level too strong for gardens and the smell only brings more predators to our area. So here we go, your yard was a great place to go but now it isn’t safe or healthy and the air stinks. All thanks to chickens. Tomorrow you will try to walk across your lawn but you will see a fox coyote or a rat. You wont know if those animals are rabid. You will have to grab the kids, the dogs, the cats, and dash through the swarms of flies caused by your neighbors chickens. Don't think of moving, no one seeking a “town” or “city” atmosphere will want to move into such a neighborhood. The value of your house will crash. The bottom line is this, raising chickens comes at a price. Both to those in the Borough who are impacted by the new predators and smell as well as the Borough itself. The cost to add an additional animal control officer could easily cost the borough over $100,000 every year. Are we really going to sacrifice everyone's safety and put more strain on the taxpayer over raising farm animals in town? Sign below to keep the chickens out. You deserve a safe, healthy, and sweet smelling back yard.