Will Hens Be Our Friends?

On Monday, April 15th, the Euclid City Council will consider Resolution 269-13, the Hen Pilot program.  Sponsored by Councilmen Langman, O'Hare and McLauglin, the pilot is designed to determine if allowing folks to raise hens in their backyards can work in Euclid.

More and more urban and suburban residents are taking an interest in how their food is grown and raised, wanting more locally grown, and fresh foods.  The practice and hobby of raising hens has also taken hold across the county.  Cities such as Boston, Atlanta, Los Angels, New York, Orlando and Chicago allow the practice in some form.  Right here in North East Ohio, communities such as Cleveland and Cleveland Hts.  have allowed their residents to participate in this growing trend   For many urban and suburban residents fresh eggs are the very symbol of independence from the "industrial food complex" believing freshly laid eggs to be tastier and better for you.

The trend has reached Euclid, as over the past few years, as members of the community have asked if raising hens it allowable.  Currently the practice is not, although it was allowed up until 1981.

As with any idea, Council is charged with weighing the pros and cons.  The challenge here for Council is this:  Can the property owner enjoy raising hens WITHOUT causing harm to their neighbors?

If I have learned anything in all my years on Council is that issues always have something to teach.

Not knowing much about raising hens and, any potential issues, the resolution sponsors reached out to Cleveland's Blue Pike Farm, a thriving urban farm on E 72nd Street; the Cuyahoga  County - OSU Agricultural Extension Service that provided practical experience and expertise on backyard hens;   Residents of Cleveland Hts who opened their yards for a Council tour of backyard hens in the Heights.   And, the insights of Council members of Cleveland Hts.

And, of course, Council also had committee meetings to discuss the program, and, to hear concerns of the Euclid residents.

The Pilot Program Resolution is the result of all of all of this work.

Here are the program highlights:

1)  One Year Program:  Success or failure, the program ends after one year.  Success is defined as
 no complaints, and, no regulatory burden on the Administration.

2)  Limited Participation.  Only up to 5 owner occupied home are allowed during the pilot.  This allows for easier program monitoring.

3)  4 Hen Limit:  No turkeys, geese, ducks, roosters: to noisy.  No slaughtering allowed.

4)  Application Required:   Interested home owners must fill out the application form and pay their $25.00 application fee.   Application must include a basic site plan for the coop, or shed, and the enclosed outside "run."  A garage or deck is not an acceptable option for housing hens.  Basic rules include a 5ft set back from the property lines, and, a 6ft ht on any new coop.   The "run"
can not be an existing perimeter fence, but rather, an inner fence that allows the hens secure access to the yard.  The Building Commissioner will review the plans.

5 ) Neighbor Permission Required:  Applicants must obtain permission from each adjacent neighbor, and, the neighbor immediately behind them.  This is, perhaps the most important part of the program:  it gives neighbors veto power:  no permission, no hens.  In our research, farm animal ordinances in other communities can cause problems because neighbors are caught off guard, by the appearance
of the birds.

Ultimately, if a hen program works in Cleveland, or Cleveland Hts, or wherever, it does not mean that it will work in Euclid.  This is why we believe that the Pilot Program is the best way to go.  It will give us the real world experience right here in Euclid to provide us the answers most us are looking for.