We would like the city of Coppell to update their current backyard chicken ordinance to more closely align with our neighboring cities such as Flower Mound, Southlake, Lewisville, Frisco, Carrollton, McKinney, Allen, etc. and allow residents to keep backyard chickens.

We propose that the City of Coppell allow 4 backyard chickens per household. An enclosed chicken house should also be required, as a safe place for the chickens to sleep at night.

1) We understand the nutrition differences between store-bought eggs and the eggs from chickens I personally raise, who are able to receive sunshine, as well as eat grass, weeds, and bugs, which are a natural part of a chicken's diet. What goes into the chicken also goes into the eggs. The commercial egg industry raises chickens in abysmal circumstances, with no sunlight, very low quality feed, as well as antiobitocis to help keep them alive in their filthy living situation.

Reference: https://hcsummers.com/blog/27788/difference-between-store-bought-eggs-and-fresh-farm-eggs

Reference: https://www.upc-online.org/books/prisoned_chickens_poisoned_eggs_2009.pdf

2) Growing up, taking care of the chickens and collecting their eggs was something I was responsible for. I want that experience for my children. There are many lessons to be learned from raising chickens, such as where our food comes from, natural cycles, etc.

Reference: https://www.greenchildmagazine.com/children-chickens-what-backyard-chickens-can-teach-kids/

Reference: https://www.thegardencoop.com/blog/2012/02/15/growing-up-with-chickens/

3) Hen are quiet animals. I completely agree that roosters should not be allowed in urban areas. Hens are quiet and would create far less noise than a barking dog.

4) Chickens create excellent fertilizer. Chicken manure contains a good deal of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium – the primary ingredients in lawn and garden fertilizers. Chicken manure can be composted and added to the soil of your garden, flowers, trees, shrubs, and lawns.

5) Chickens are like a natural garbage disposal. Chickens can eat many of the food items we would normally throw away, including food scraps from salads, vegetable peelings, rice, fruits, nuts, and seeds.

6) Chickens are very easy to take care of.

7) Chickens help control bugs and weeds naturally, without the use of chemicals and insecticides.

8) Given the recent pandemic, we all saw how quickly staples such as milk and eggs disappeared from the grocery store shelves. To be told that we cannot keep a few chickens, as a food source for my family, is very hard to swallow.We feel this is a basic freedom everyone should have.