Terrell Hills Residents only please:

Backyard chickens provide their owners with a self-sustainable supply of eggs. Furthermore, chickens can be fed table scraps, which alleviates the strain on the municipal waste system. Chickens do not require a lot of space and are very happy in a small coop. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, any attempt at self sustainability should be rewarded.

On September 1, 2019 the State of Texas passed a bill allowing backyard chickens.  The City of San Antonio and Bexar County also allow chickens. (*see verbiage at bottom)  

Eggs from backyard hens contain significantly more nutrients than factory farm eggs, boasting 25 percent more vitamin E, 1/3 more vitamin A, and 75% more beta carotene. Not to mention more omega-3 fatty acids than factory farmed eggs.

There is a misconception that chickens are noisy. Hens are quiet and this petition is only asking for support in allowing hens.  Occasionally a hen will make a small sound while laying an egg which makes less noise than a barking dog.  In cities that allow chickens, studies show that there are actually more complaints about barking dogs than chickens. 

Owning backyard chickens is a bonding family-experience: children have a new outdoor pet and learn about the farm to table connection. They also learn responsibility by pitching in gathering the eggs and taking care of the hens. Chickens also eat mosquitoes.

The City of Terrell Hills ordinance regarding chickens is currently as follows:

“It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any horses, cattle, sheep, goats, poultry or other animal other than dogs and cats, normally kept or raised on a farm or ranch within the corporate limits of the City of Terrell Hills".

In an era of waste reduction and self-sustainability, I would imagine that any municipality would be glad to adopt such a measure and reduce the restrictions on local homeowners. 

There are various neighboring urban municipalities that allow or are in the process of allowing backyard chickens. See our state's recent bill below allowing residential chickens.

If you are a resident of Terrell Hills, please consider joining us in asking the city to update the ordinance to and allow Terrell Hills families to enjoy the many benefits of backyard chickens.  

*TX SB86

SIX CHICKENS ALLOWED ON SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOT. (a) Notwithstanding any other law and except as provided by Subsection (b), a municipality may not adopt or enforce an ordinance that prohibits the raising or keeping of six or fewer chickens on a single-family residential lot.

A municipality may impose reasonable regulations on the raising or keeping of poultry on a single-family residential lot that do not have the effect of prohibiting the raising or keeping of six or fewer chickens, including:

(1) a limit on the number of chickens that may be raised or kept in excess of six;

(2) a prohibition on breeding poultry;

(3) a prohibition on raising or keeping roosters; or

(4) the minimum distance between a chicken coop and a residential structure.

(c) An ordinance adopted by a municipality that violates Subsection (a) is void.