MANSFIELD, Ohio – If a local grass-roots campaign is successful, fresh backyard eggs may be plentiful as chickens come to roost in Mansfield. Interested residents and community representatives discussed the issue during the Richland Community Development Group (RCDG) Ag/Local Foods Sector meeting on April 8.
“They really help gardeners because of the manure you can use, and they scratch around in the yard. They take care of ticks and all kinds of pest problems,” said Mansfield resident Melanie Seaman. “They are quiet, they’re not a nuisance to anyone, they give eggs, they’re pets – there are a million reasons we should have chickens.”
Mansfield’s current ordinance allows chickens on parcels of three or more acres, but only with a permit issued by the director of codes and permits. The group is hoping to change that ordinance to make chicken ownership available to more of Mansfield’s residents.
Urban agriculture, which includes gardens and often chickens, ducks, bees, and even goats, is a broad movement across the nation as many seek a return to a more sustainable lifestyle. Urban agriculture has been utilized to revitalize vacant properties by installing community gardens, to create jobs for those with barriers to employment, and to provide milk, honey, and produce for food banks as well as local residents.
As a result of the widespread movement, cities in Ohio have adapted ordinances to allow farm animals.
Cleveland allows chickens, ducks, rabbits and “similar farm animals” in residential districts, limited to six animals on a standard residential lot of 4,800 square feet, and no more than one such animal to be kept on a parcel of land for each 800 square feet.
Cincinnati allows six fowl and six rabbits on lots under ¼ of an acre; 12 fowl and 12 rabbits on lots ¼ to ½ acre; 24 fowl and 12 rabbits on lots of ½ to 1 acre, and no restrictions for lots over an acre.
Kingwood Center Gardens, noted attendee Cheryl Harner, has kept peafowl, guinea fowl, and ducks for many years with excellent results.
Chickens aren’t just for the residents. Spanish Immersion School teacher Gabe Costa attended the meeting to investigate the possibility of chickens at the school, not only as part of the curriculum but also to help teach the children responsibility.
Bob Leach, Braintree director of operations, suggested the group host a public forum so that residents may speak either in favor of or against the change in ordinance before approaching council with suggestions. “You’re going to have lots of preconceived notions that you are going to have to offset,” he said.
North End Community Improvement Collaborative (NECIC) Community Garden/Local Foods Program Coordinator Jean Taddie discussed possible strategies and goals for the group. She suggested finding out what possible objections would be, the benefits of ordinance change, and what animals would be suggested to be allowed.
Tim Hicks of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation said the issue has come full circle, as once cities insisted that no agricultural endeavors be undertaken within city limits; but now residents want to play a larger role in the production of their own food.
The group will host a public forum on the issue of chickens in the city and any interested parties are invited to attend. The meeting will be held Tuesday, April 28, at 4 p.m., at NECIC, located at 199 North Main Street, Mansfield.
The next RCDG Ag/Local Foods Sector meeting will be held May 13 at 10 a.m. at the Longview Center.
Is it OK to have 2 chickens in city of mansfield 507 king st. for eggs?