To the Editor,
I’m writing to voice my support for allowing backyard hens in our community.
I wrote a letter to Richland Source on Jan. 22 this year, and discovered many others who shared my passion. Backyard hens are a practical, sustainable, and educational initiative that deserves our attention and approval.
Backyard hens provide a source of up to 300 fresh, healthy eggs per chicken per year, help reduce up to 182 pounds of food waste by eating table scraps, improve soil quality, stimulate economic growth, and serve as excellent natural pest control.
They also offer an incredible opportunity for children and families to learn about food sources, animal care, and environmental responsibility. Many towns across the country have already embraced this movement with great success.
Opponents often raise concerns about noise, odor, or health risks, but these issues are easily managed through reasonable regulation, just as we do with dogs and other pets. Responsible chicken keeping is quiet, clean, and respectful to neighbors.
There are also concerns of chickens causing a decrease in property values, but evidence shows chickens may cause an increase in property values.
Our neighbors in Madison township allow chickens without problem. Mansfield already has ordinances which prevents any animal from running at large (505.4), damaging others’ property (505.5), having unsanitary conditions (505.6), or to be loud (505.7).
Section 941.14 of the Ohio Revised Code covers how to handle when an animal dies with an infectious disease. We aim to follow and strengthen these laws, as well as create a support work and educational resources for the health and happiness of both humans and chickens.
We believe it’s time our community joined the growing number of cities that support residents in choosing a more sustainable lifestyle. That’s why we’ve launched a petition to urge local officials to legalize backyard chickens.
As of submitting this letter, there are already 374 signatures in favor of backyard hens since May 14, 2025. Please add your voice by signing the petition found below and help us make a positive change for our neighborhood, our environment, and our future.
Sincerely,
K. L. Cunning
Mansfield, Ohio
Link to petition: https://gforms.app/p/4CLpGic