Codman Farms is having a Backyard Chickens class this fall! I've heard great things about it, and I'm signed up to take it myself. If you're interested in trying out laying hens in your backyard, please consider joining me!  The BOH will be asking for information on any classes you've taken as part of the application process in Arlington, so taking the class is STRONGLY ENCOURAGED if you want to get hens in Arlington!

http://www.codmanfarm.org/page/page/4439665.htm

This 2 session class covers the basics of keeping a small flock of laying hens in your backyard. Topics include nutrition, housing, regulations, health and behavior. We will also discuss the various breeds of poultry available and observe some of them here at the farm. You will leave the class with a good sense of what is involved in successfully raising layer chickens.

Location: Codman Community Farm, 58 Codman  Road, Lincoln MA
Dates/Times: Saturday, October 3rd, 9:30-11:30 am AND
Saturday, October 17th, 9:30-11:30 am
Instructor: Joan Teebagy, Poultry Volunteer, Codman Farm
Cost: $55 Codman Community Farm Members
$70 Non-Members

Hope to see you there!

My name is Pam Callaway, and I'm putting together a warrant article for the keeping of small number of hens, for the upcoming Town Meeting. This is my first experience with putting forward a warrant - it's been very interesting!  I am a property owner in Arlington, so I have all the concerns that any other owner would have - property value, noise, smell.  I think all of these will be addressed in the proposal for the Town Meeting.  If you are interested in supporting the warrant, click here to find out how!

Why Hens?

• Taste - Fresh eggs taste better – flavor degrades over time.
• Better nutrition - hens that have access to the outdoors and a varied diet are healthier and produce eggs with more nutrients.
• Cost - Backyard eggs (and almost any food you grow yourself) are cheaper. Feed is very cheap.
• Sustainability - local food is better for the environment, the more local the better.
• Fertilizer - Composted chicken litter can be used in gardens and will reduce chemical fertilizer use and runoff from lawns.
• Reduce Waste - Chickens can eat left over kitchen scraps, helping to reduce trash output.
• Reduce pests! Chickens eat ticks, mosquitoes, and other annoying bugs.
• Chickens make great pets – they have individual personalities and are very interested in people.
• Education - Having hens in the neighborhood would provide educational opportunities for children to really understand where food comes from.
• Humane treatment of animals - Backyard hens would be better cared for and healthier than industrial cage-reared chickens.
• Food security - local food production is important in case of significant, prolonged economic downturn, or significant increase in transportation costs.

 How will we do it?

I am putting forward two warrant articles - one to change the zoning bylaw to allow for hens (not roosters), and the other to allow for any regulations people might want with regards to chickens. The town counsel told me that the warrant articles are purposely very vague, so that people can put forward different proposals during the town meeting itself. The zoning change must pass by a 2/3 majority vote.

In addition to the warrant articles, I've also put together a FAQ about hen keeping, to address any concerns anyone might have. I'd be interested in hearing what comments people have. I truly believe that increasing local food production is the best thing for Arlington, especially given the economic troubles we've seen so far.


Here are the warrant articles:
ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT/Keeping of Hens
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaw in Article 5, Section 5.04, Table of Use Regulations, by adding a new use numbered 3.03 immediately after use 3.02 as follows, "3.03 Keeping of no more than six hen chickens (as opposed to roosters) for egg-laying, pet, or other purposes." and by adding the words "Yes" in the columns headed R1, R2, and R3 immediately thereafter; or take any action related thereto.


TOWN BYLAW AMENDMENT/Keeping of Poultry
To see if the Town will vote to amend Title VIII, Public Health and Safety, of the Bylaws by inserting an article to regulate the keeping of poultry in any area in which the keeping of poultry may be permitted under the Zoning Bylaws, including but not limited to imposing housing and vaccination requirements, or take any action related thereto.

An ammendment will be proposed at the town meeting with specific rules.  Here is the draft of the ammendent.

The process for the warrants is:

• Redevelopment board vote, March 16, 7pm.
  Town Hall Annex, Second floor conference room.
  
• Zoning Bylaw Review Committee, March 18, 7:30 pm.
  Town Hall Annex, Second floor converence room.
  
• Board of Selectmen vote, March 30th, 7:15pm
  Town Hall, Board of Selectmen's Chambers.
• Town meeting vote, probably in May.
  Town Hall.
  

Why is this neccessary?

According to Juliana Rice, town counsel, "There is no Board of Health regulation or Town Bylaw banning the keeping of chickens in backyards.  Such a rule would be redundant because keeping chickens is an agricultural use not allowed under the Zoning Bylaws.  If a use of property is not specifically allowed in the Table of Use Regulations, then engaging in that use is not permitted. See Section 5.01 of the Zoning ByLaw."

You can view the town bylaws here:
http://www.town.arlington.ma.us/Public_Documents/ArlingtonMA_ZoningBylaws/2008ZonBylawFull.pdf

Survey

Take the online survey to let us know what you think!

 Petition

If you already know you want to support hens, then sign the petition !