Manatee Group Lobbies for Backyard Chickens

Should residents be able to raise chickens in their backyard?

Yes! cluck members of a grassroots group trying to convince Manatee County to allow people to raise hens and benefit from their eggs.

Members of CLUCK just met at the Palmetto Library to plan for an upcoming Manatee County Commission workshop on the issue.

The Palmetto meeting was for organizing and talking strategy, in preparation for the commission workshop on March 19.

(Editor's note: The Commission workshop has been moved to 9 a.m., March 19, in the Commission chambers. The original time was at 1:30 p.m. For details, see CLUCK's Facebook Page.)

Members of the Manatee chapter of Citizens Lobbying for Urban Chicken Keeping are encouraging supporters to attend the March 19 commission workshop that will include review of county code as it relates to backyard chickens.

On CLUCK's Facebook page, Vicki Jarrett wrote: "I strongly suggest that for those of us who want the legalize backyard hens in Manatee County to contact their Commissioner and the two At Large Commissioners ASAP to ask that they support backyard hens (no roosters) in the rewrite of the Land Development Code. We need to stay strong in #'s and remain very vocal!"

Under current law, owning chickens in residential areas is illegal, according to the Bradenton Herald's article, "Manatee County Chicken Proponents Squawk for Action."

According to the Herald article, backyard chickens are permitted in Sarasota and Palmetto, "Under certain circumstances."

According to the Herald:
Two years ago, Sarasota County approved such an ordinance, and now, many residents own hens, said Jono Miller, a founder of the Sarasota chapter of CLUCK. No roosters are allowed, and the hens must be confined in a coop; he said, adding, "They can't wander out into the yard."

Sign up for the Bradenton Patch email newsletter to get headlines delivered straight to your henhouse, umm, inbox, so you won't miss updates on backyard chickens!