Backyard chicken fans come calling in Lafayette

Sponsor of proposed backyard chicken ordinance says opposition has been muted, as supporters line up to encourage Lafayette to lift ban on keeping hens in the city

Support for this edition comes from Food Finders Food Bank, presenting its Blue Jean Ball May 3. The annual event and auction raises funds for Food Finders’ mission of serving 84,000 individuals across a 16-county service area who are one emergency away from hunger. Check here for tickets and to see items available in the auction.

---

BACKYARD CHICKEN FANS COME CALLING IN LAFAYETTE

Dozens of people advocating for Lafayette to allow residences to have egg-laying chickens in their backyards made their case over lunchtime Thursday during the first of two hearings about proposed changes in the city codes banning more livestock.

No one came to speak against the idea during a half-hour hearing at Lafayette City Hall.

“I was a little surprised we didn’t hear from anyone against this,” Eileen Hession Weiss, a Lafayette City Council member, said after the session. “I don’t know, maybe we’re on to something.”

This latest attempt to legalize backyard coops and pens for hens in Lafayette – the first in roughly a decade – started with a call to city hall by Christine Poquette, who arranged a meeting between Hession Weiss and about 30 people interested in the concept.

(Photo: Unsplash)

“She said tell her why she should get behind it,” Poquette said Thursday.