Lacey Patch, Sept. 9, 2022
LACEY, NJ — Chicken owners of Lacey came to a recent Township Committee meeting to protest a proposed ordinance that would add regulations and restrictions to raising poultry in the township.
The proposed legislation would limit how many chickens could be raised on a certain amount of land. Twelve chickens would be allowed on a lot of about 80 by 100, 0.20 of an acre, Township Clerk Veronica Laureigh explained. Half an acre of land could raise 20 chickens, and another 20 for each additional acre of a lot, she said. No roosters would be allowed, but those with chickens already would be grandfathered in, and would come into compliance as the chickens died.
The law contains regulations on coop and yard space, along with managing hygiene of those areas.
Poultry owners would also have to register and pay an annual fee of $20, Laureigh said.
The regulations come after township officials said they have been dealing with complaints regarding rooster noise and unhygienic conditions.
“We’re not trying to do away with chickens,” Mayor Mark Dykoff said. “We’re just trying to regulate them a little bit, because some people don’t take care of their yards.”
The meeting was standing room only as the room was packed with concerned chicken owners. Many expressed their love of their chickens. An idea frequently repeated was that this would unnecessarily punish responsible poultry owners in Lacey.
“This saddens us and concerns us,” said Maurice Grillon, representing Lacey Backyard Flock, a group of more than 400 local chicken owners and lovers.
Many who spoke praised the uses of chickens, including Grillon. They provide food through their eggs in an increasingly troubled economy, people said, they teach responsibility, they control pests and of course, they provide companionship.
Grillon asked the Committee for exemptions and compromise.
“We feel that the best way to handle complaints is through neighborly conversations, and not by one size fits all ordinances,” Grillon said.
Many more residents voiced the same thoughts, asking for exemptions for groups like 4H and Future Farmers of America.
A 17-year-old girl said she had been a member of the 4H Club since she was eight, and growing up with chickens taught her to be responsible. She also shared the benefits of chickens, asking for exceptions to the ordinance for kids in agricultural programs.
Many also protested the ban on roosters, saying that they protect the flock. Some families breed their chickens as well.
Lindsay McKee said that her children enjoy watching the hatching process each year, which roosters are obviously needed for. She was concerned about having to remove chicks from their mothers too early and what would be done with them.
“Can’t we simmer down the ordinance a little bit?” McKee asked. She suggested a yearly inspection instead, so “responsible” owners would not be penalized.
Others still mentioned that sometimes when you buy chickens, you may not know until later that they are roosters. People asked what they would have to do if that were the case.
Dykoff said that was a “good point,” admitting that he had not been aware of these issues.
Barry Bendar, a frequent speaker at meetings and Green Party candidate for the Committee, suggested that when complaints are submitted against chicken owners, they refer those owners to some of Lacey’s chicken organizations to educate the better caretaking of chickens.
“We have experts in town, right in this room,” Bendar said.
The Committee agreed with the comments and unanimously decided to table the ordinance so they could give it another look.
“Thank you all for being civil and respectful to each other and to us,” Dykoff said.
This is the way local government is “supposed to work,” he said.
“We propose something, you come out and give us your input, so we can educate ourselves,” Dykoff said. “And it’s amazing.”
Veronica Flesher 