Some Residents See Benefits to Hen Farming, Others Against the Possibility

Cuyahoga Falls Planning and Zoning Director Fred Guerra said the city is entertaining the idea of allowing small hen farms in the city's more residential areas.

Sometime this year, city officials will likely consider whether residents should have the ability to raise and keep three to four hens on their property, said Guerra.

Read the original story posted by Patch here.  

Readers, who were for and against hen farming, started to chime in about the possibility.

Advocates:

• "Lot size should definitely be considered ... as well as having to have a permit/license for a small fee. That way the city has a way of being able to drop in to make sure there aren't too many/things are kept HEALTHY. I live in the tract that is the original Sackett Farm and it could get out of hand/disgusto with some of my neighbors." — Kyndal Sutton said on Facebook. 
• "You can have a few in your backyard, they aren't any more trouble to take care of than dogs and cats plus you get either meat or eggs out of them." — Russ Hofer  said on Facebook. 
• "I guess to make a informed decision as egg lovers we need to know some answers to some strange questions 
  Tom - egg advocate 
  1) do you want to live in the city? 2) what do you want to see in your hen library and schools ?
  3) will you be able to provide a 3 year egg forecast on the city's website for all to view ?
  
  4) who can be counted on to provide toast or will we form a group within the community to butter the bread?" — Tom Sullivan wrote on Facebook. 

Opponents:

• "No, just more problems for homeowners! There is plenty of appropriate acreage to be assigned and used by interested owners of farm animals." — Cherie Lewis posted on the original Patch story. 
• "Have a neighbor who has a vegetable garden in the FRONT yard, an open compost pile that has given all the neighbors major rodent problems and he wants chickens. Can't wait for the coyotes and wild things to come around!" — Bev Hutchens wrote on Patch. 

What are your thoughts? Are you for or against the possibilty of your neighbor or yourself owning chickens? What concerns do you have?