The Mequon Council members are considering the idea of allowing residents to own chickens for non-slaughter purposes on smaller lots in Mequon. Currently, one must have at least 10 acres of land to own chickens, but the proposed ordinance would allow “four hens on lots of at least one-and-a-half acres,” according to the MequonNOW.

Any number of chickens, within reason, should be allowed on any size of land, as long as the owners provide proper nutrition, shelter and living conditions for each chicken. Obviously, nobody should be stuffing twenty plus chickens in a five-foot coop, as that could definitely be considered animal cruelty. But if a homeowner with a modest, half-acre lot wants a couple hens for fresh omelettes on Sunday mornings, why not let him?

Opponents of urban farming state that chickens are noisy; however, according to mypetchicken.com, laying hens only make noise when they’ve just laid an egg or when they feel threatened. Even then, the sound is nothing compared to roosters, which are usually banned outside of farms.

Another myth is that chickens are smelly, but in all honesty, which smells worse: a small, scattered collection of chicken feces or a big, sun-baked pile of dog excrements? I think the answer is pretty obvious.

Chickens would add a pleasant, rural atmosphere to suburban Mequon. The benefits of adding poultry to this town could greatly outweigh the negatives. According to Amanda Boll, junior and owner of two laying hens, “[chickens] are cute and they lay eggs.”

Kate Thomas, junior, lives on a farm and therefore considers chickens a normal part of life. In her opinion, eggs are “better when they’re from the chicken,” Thomas said.

Boll agreed, stating that their hens’ eggs “are better than store-bought.”

Clearly, the benefits of allowing people to keep chickens for non-slaughter purposes greatly outweigh the negatives. After all, if we live in a state known for farming, why shouldn’t we be able to keep chickens at our own houses?