Chicken Parade – Don’t Take Away Our Birds

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 25, 2024, 2:00 p.m. CDT
Contact: Ed Fallon at 515-238-6404 or ed@fallonforum.com

Backyard chicken advocates to parade with their birds around City Hall

DES MOINES, IOWA – On Monday, July 29 at 8:00 a.m., Des Moines residents opposed to changing the City’s chicken ordinance will parade with their birds around City Hall, 400 Robert Ray Drive, to show community support for maintaining Des Moines’ strong, long-standing ordinance allowing residents to raise chickens and other poultry. The event is called Chicken Parade – Don’t Take Away Our Birds.

At least one Des Moines City Council member wants significant changes to the City’s ordinance, with a proposal under consideration that would outlaw roosters and reduce the number of hens allowed from 30 to 12.

In a victory for chicken advocates on July 22, Council members agreed not to fast track the proposed ordinance. The Council intends to vote on the proposal at its next regular meeting on Monday, August 5 at 5:00 p.m. at City Hall.

“In my work, it’s become more and more common to have clients specifically ask to live in areas where they will be allowed to have chickens,” said Sara Kern, a realtor specializing in Central Iowa. “No suburb has a chicken ordinance anywhere near as strong as Des Moines’. I definitely see the value of allowing chickens per the current ordinance in Des Moines.”

“Keeping chickens brings companionship, entertainment, pest control, and a sustainable food source with their eggs, while food prices continue to rise,” said LeAnn Moskowitz, an east side resident. “This proposed amendment to the ordinance is a political solution in search of a problem.”

“I’ve known my neighbors who have chickens for a long time,” said south side resident Reno Faoro. “I don’t care whether they’re hens or roosters. I like to feed them, and they’re fun to watch.”

“Chickens bring value to my neighborhood,” said Lindsey Good, who lives in Sherman Hill. “I enjoy giving them my chicken-approved food scraps, and it feels good knowing I’m reducing food waste.”

“The City of Des Moines has voiced support for local food production, which is a crucial component of food security,” said Kathy Byrnes, director of the nonprofit Birds & Bees Urban Farm in Des Moines. “But now we see some Council members backtracking on that commitment.”

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