Freedom!! No Yolk! Liberty for Layers!

Iowa City will join the growing ranks of towns that allow people to keep chickens in city limits. The City Council last night adopted an ordinance that sets a permit process for so-called urban or backyard chickens and, in a separate vote, approved a policy establishing rules for keeping chickens — including a provision that gives someone the power to veto a neighbor’s request for a permit. That veto was the subject of much debate, but it also led to an unexpected unanimous vote in favor of the policy. A couple of council members spoke against the veto power but agreed to it to get backyard chickens in Iowa City. Opponents of chickens also voted “yes” because they felt the policy protected the interests of people who don’t want the birds next door...more