Pet chickens safe, for now

WAVERLY, Neb. - A Waverly family can keep their pet chickens - for now.

The Waverly City Council was faced with trying to decide whether a family could keep their pet chickens at their residence.

The city has zoning regulations that allow breeding and raising small animals and fowl in agriculture districts, but no animals with measurable odors could be raised for commercial purposes.

City Attorney Mark Fahleson said there is also a city ordinance that prohibits livestock from residing within the city limits.

"Our ordinance is not clear," he said. "'Livestock' is not defined by the ordinance."

Until the city clarifies the definition further, the Dan and Cristi Anderson family can continue to have pet chickens.

The family currently has two pet hens, and has had as many as five chickens during the past four years. The three children raise and take care of the animals to learn about agriculture and use as 4-H projects. Dan Anderson said his children were every excited that they could continue to keep their pets until further notice.

"I hope the council understood that we are not a commercial operation, we just want to raise a few chickens for fun," Anderson said. "The kids have worked hard over the last four years taking good care of them."

The Andersons first began to have chickens at their residence four years ago. However, on Sept. 19, a Lancaster County Sheriff's Deputy visited their home indicating that the city had received a complaint.

Anderson said it was the first time he had ever heard about someone complaining about his family's pet chickens.

"I actually don't know what the specific complaint was, but I am assuming it was the bantam rooster who did crow a couple of times each day," Anderson said.

The Andersons have since found a new home for the rooster.

"I would like to apologize to whomever complained as it was not our intent to upset anyone," Anderson said. The Andersons plan to continue to have pet chickens, no more than five, to use for 4-H, eggs, bug control and fun, and have even built a coop.

"Keeping the chicken coop clean is very easy," Anderson said. "In general, they are very clean pets from our experience.

"You can't even tell the chickens are there without physically coming onto the property and looking for them," he added.