October 7, 2010
US state legalises backyard poultry farming
A US city council in the urban community of Providence, Rhode Island, has given final approval to an ordinance that would allow residents to raise up to six chickens.
The ruling makes Providence the first urban community in the state to pass legislation similar to chicken ordinances in other cities across the country, including New York, Portland, Los Angeles and Baltimore.
Providence's new chicken law comes as other communities are considering revising local laws to accommodate a burgeoning interest in locally grown food.
The law limits residents to one hen per 800 square feet of lot area and a maximum of six hens on any property. It prohibits roosters, the slaughtering of chickens on residential properties, and keeping chickens in the house.
