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SOUTH OGDEN — Let the bird debates commence.
Backyard chickens can be a thorny issue and bird advocates are pushing for change in South Ogden and Washington Terrace, allowing the public to keep birds. The issue has been an on-and-off point of debate in the cities, the only locales in Weber and Davis counties that don't permit backyard chickens, according to the Washington Terrace Backyard Chicken Alliance, and discussion, once again, is lurching forward.
Brian Smith is spearheading the push in South Ogden, based on his prior experiences raising ducks.
"They are just the happiest little creatures. They are sweet," he said. Their eggs, moreover, are better for cooking than what other birds produce, he maintains.
At any rate, discussions are in the early stages, and there's no guarantee officials in either city will act, though advocates express at least a measure of hope based on new members in the city councils in each city. The South Ogden Planning Commission was to take a preliminary look at the issue at a meeting on Thursday while Washington Terrace officials are in the process of crafting a potential draft ordinance for consideration.
To be sure, there's a vocal contingent that favors allowing backyard birds in Washington Terrace, said City Manager Tom Hanson. But they don't represent the only viewpoint. "We have to look at that balance and how it may impact the residents who are just as passionate about not having chickens," Hanson said.
South Ogden City Manager Matt Dixon said the city has carried out unscientific polling via Facebook, so far generating around 800 responses. That exceeds the 500 to 550 responses the city typically gets in its annual community surveys.
"That shows there's a lot of interest and opinions out there," Dixon said. The issue was debated previously in South Ogden in 2011 and 2015, with officials ultimately taking no action.
Becky Parr, part of the Washington Terrace chicken group, was among several speakers to tout backyard chickens during the public comment period at a March 19 Washington Terrace City Council meeting. She was also involved in a push in the city in 2022, which ultimately fizzled.
Beyond fresh eggs, keeping backyard chickens is about self-sufficiency and "knowing where your food comes from," Parr said. Maintaining chickens can also be a good educational experience for kids.
Aside from the enjoyment from caring for birds, Smith said backyard chicken coops are a more humane way to get eggs than via traditional corporate chicken farms. If you buy the cheapest eggs at a supermarket, he said, you can be assured the chicken that produced them "did not have a happy life."
Critics, on the other hand, typically argue that backyard birds can cause unpleasant odors and noise and attract unwanted critters like raccoons and mice. Hanson said many of the home parcels in Washington Terrace are small, 5,000 to 7,000 square feet, which can exacerbate potential noise and other issues.
Smith said prohibiting roosters — traditionally the noisiest of domestic birds and typically banned in locales that allow backyard birds— usually addresses that issue. Other problems, Parr said, can be prevented depending on the care bird owners put into their operations.
According to Washington Terrace Backyard Chicken Alliance research, Washington Terrace and South Ogden are the only locales among the 30 or so cities and towns in Weber and Davis counties that don't permit backyard chickens. Smith said his research shows that of the 47 biggest cities in Utah, South Ogden is the only one that doesn't permit backyard birds.
Officials in Washington Terrace and South Ogden don't have firm timelines for consideration of the backyard chicken issue. Washington Terrace officials first want to put together a budget for 2024-2025 before considering potential bird ordinances, Hanson said.
