Chickens, ducks and goats...oh my

At the next city council meeting our new city council is poised to pass an ordinance to allow farm animals in town. Residents of Thermopolis your voices need to be heard.

At my parents’ ranch we had all these animals and more. People that were acquainted with my mother (Ellen) knew she was to the ranch what Noah was to the Ark. She had chickens, goats, ducks, geese, pigs and whatever else she could coax in. During lambing and calving seasons, she would leave the ranch in her pickup and show back up with bum lambs and calves riding next to her. The ranch was the perfect place for my mom and her animals.

As a homeowner and taxpayer in Thermop I do not believe a residential setting is the proper place for what the city council is planning.

I have had an up close and personal experience with chickens and ducks in a residential setting while living in Casper several years ago. The city council in Casper had wisely voted to not allow farm animals in town, this included chickens and ducks. One morning my wife and I woke up to chickens and ducks next door to us, it seems there was a loophole that allowed them for a 4-h project. Not wanting to ruin the experience for the kids we decided to go along with our new feathered neighbors. Over the next 2 years the situation became unbearable with the smell, noise, and the flies. We could not open the windows of our house that was adjacent to them because of the smell. Sitting out and enjoying the backyard was miserable with all the flies and the smell. Going to the dumpster where they put their waste was an education in smells. We attempted several times to work out the situation with the neighbors with no avail. I finally called the city ordinance and metro and after 3 visits they had to get rid of the chickens and ducks.

At the March 7th council meeting, one council member stated, “I personally feel as a councilman that it’s my duty to do what is best for the town. I think it’s common sense and my own personal feeling that we have so many nuisances as it is not just with the dogs and cats, but with deer, crow, junkyards and everything else. I just hate to see another nuisance, but I have nothing against chickens. I want you to know that.” I agree with the council member, I also have nothing against chickens, just not in a residential setting. The next council meeting is important as it could be the third and final reading for this new ordinance. As residents of Thermopolis your voice is important. Give your council members a call or show up to the meeting.

John Roden