Category Archives: Animals and ethics

  Sundari Kraft is the most visible proponent of the proposed “Food Producing Animals” ordinance which would drastically reduce the limitations on backyard chickens, ducks, and goats.  Earlier I reported that one of her neighbors, Roseanne Jelacic, has written to … Continue reading →

Figuring out how to live with a pet can be a challenging experience, just because animals are different from humans. Even in the case of dogs and cats, which are common enough in our society so that knowledge of their … Continue reading →

Backyard livestock supporters often tout the success of other cities who have allowed backyard chickens or goats. Seattle is often held up as just such a success. But is it? If you just talked to city officials, that might be … Continue reading →

Somehow, amidst all the glorious success stories that supporters tell about cities who have promoted backyard chickens, feral chickens never get mentioned. The problem of feral chickens represents another problem for supporters of the proposed “food producing animals” (FPA) ordinance.

The proper size of chicken coops in the proposed Denver ordinance on “food producing animals” (chickens, ducks, and goats) doesn’t sound like that big of a deal. Decide on a reasonable standard, then put the phrasing in the ordinance. The … Continue reading →

If the ordinance currently before the Denver City Council to allow virtually anyone to keep chickens and goats passes, what would this mean for Denver? Denver currently allows chickens and goats in residential areas but only under highly restrictive conditions, … Continue reading →

Backyard chickens are being pitched as an alternative to “factory farms.”  But there is something else at work here. Here is what the current draft of the Denver backyard chicken ordinance requires per chicken: 1 square foot of space in … Continue reading →

What is the difference between the draft of the Denver livestock ordinance (oops, I mean the “food producing animals ordinance”) and the Portland, Maine ordinance, or the very similar Fort Collins ordinance? Let’s ignore the provision for goats, for the … Continue reading →