To the City of Rock Island Residents,

I am writing you today to inform you of the value of legalizing Backyard Chickens in Rock Island.

Backyard Chickens will increase the independence, health, and education of Rock Island Residents.

Many city councils across the country including cities as close to us as Chicago are legalizing urban chickens.

VALUES:

There are many values to keeping Backyard Chickens.

- Increases access to fresh eggs.

- Allows residents independence in choosing their food and the antibiotics, steroids, and treatment thereof.

- Promotes a healthier alternative to grocery store eggs and increases health in residents.

- Provides an educational experience. From the moment a person decides to keep Backyard Chickens, they start the learning process. This process is one they can share with the whole family and is one that has been sadly taken from us since many of our children no longer understand where our food comes from.

CONCERNS:

I realize there are concerns to Backyard Chickens.

- One concern is the cleanliness of raising back yard chickens. A coop when properly kept has many benefits and very little smell. Properly cared for coops provide great fertilizer for gardens and if a tractor coop is chosen, it can be rolled through the yard for bug maintenance.

- Another area of concern is noise. Backyard Chickens are not as loud as people think! They only produce a noise level of 70 decibels at their loudest which occurs once daily as they lay an egg and NEVER at night as compared to the typical dog who produces 70-100 decibels and can howl and or bark continuously all through the day and night! While roosters can be a bit noisier than chickens, producing 80-90 decibels, with proper care and techniques they can be maintained to reduce the noise level during the city noise ordinance hours of 10 pm to 6 am.

- A further concern is the ability to attract wild animals to the neighborhood. If everything is kept tidy, chickens could really have the opposite effect. Some breeds will catch and eat small mice, moles and even snakes!

I am also attaching some photographs of different chicken coops that are readily available to show the versatility of Backyard Chickens which can be kept in mere 3-4 square foot coops per chicken.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Michelle Ramsey-Moody