No Cluckin’ Way! Bismarck Says ‘No’ to Backyard Chickens

Well, I'm guessing a "Hen Party" is not in the works either?

Sorry, couldn't resist that tiny little joke. Currently not a laughing matter, though, on the issue of raising chickens in Bismarck city limits. Now I am not aware of anyone having a chicken as a pet, but ot wouldn't surprise me one bit. Just this past Tuesday, the fate of having chickens in the Bismarck city limits came under a vote. There was a survey that went out to see how many people were in favor of or against THIS proposal:

( SEE ALSO: "NO, BISMARCK'S OLIVE GARDEN ISN'T CLOSING - HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED" )

"... permit residents to keep chickens within city limits"

First of all, WHY would chickens be banned in city limits anyway? Several reasons - Noise being one of them. Odor and smell of improperly maintained coops, and of course, public health:

According to cdc.gov "Keeping backyard poultry can be fun and educational. However, owners should be aware that poultry can sometimes carry harmful germs that make people sick. These germs can cause illnesses in people ranging from minor skin infections to serious illnesses that could cause deat"

"Outbreaks of Salmonella linked to backyard poultry are common"

So after months of conversation about what to do with the chickens issue

Well what about the public's thoughts on this? According to kfyrtv.com "A public survey showed that 44% of responders are against the proposal and 56% are in favor." Again, that survey was earlier this year, and the outcome didn't matter. "On Tuesday night, the city council voted to uphold the August decision of the Planning and Zoning Commission. It said “no” to allowing residents to keep chickens within city limits and eliminating setback requirements for coops on residential properties for those outside of town"

Oh well, hey, you can go check out chickens at the Dakota Zoo!