Keeping chickens in your yard has become increasingly popular in recent years. People keep chickens for their eggs, and as pets. The idea of keeping chickens in an urban environment is often associated with striving for sustainability, and being more connected to the food we eat. But, keeping chickens in residential neighborhoods isn’t always on the up and up – sometimes not because they’re banned, but that there just aren’t clear rules governing the practice.
We’re joined by Charlotte County resident Melissa Aniskewicz. She brought home some chicks, only to hear from code enforcement once they grew up – and one wound up being a rooster. She’s now on a mission to get Charlotte County Commissioners to pass a formal backyard chicken keeping ordinance. She is the organizer of Charlotte C.L.U.C.K. – or Citizens Lobbying for Urban Chicken Keeping.
We'll also meet Fort Myers residents Sara and John Comito to learn about their adventures in backyard chicken keeping. The City of Fort Myers established its backyard chicken keeping ordinance in 2015.
