Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Chickens are part of a farm community.
They are laying eggs for food, helping children raise FFA and 4-H animals for the fair and some people like them as pets.
The usual opposition when city councils consider letting people keep chickens at home are concerns over noise, smell, and bugs, Cities have ordinances already in place to police the problems.
It’s unfortunate when the public presents feedback in a public meeting and a city-sponsored online poll, and it’s ignored. The City of Colfax polled people about allowing chickens and 81.8% are in favor. Maybe it was the poll having 88 people taking part, but there were a few public comments too.
It seems odd that a rural community doesn’t want chickens. Banning roosters is understandable. We have perfectly good alarm clocks to wake us. But, the soft clucking of hens is a lot easier to take than a dog barking to get back in the house or because the air changed direction.
Maybe this new editor still needs to adjust to Whitman County.
Until the city council acted, I thought of Colfax as a farm community.
Bill Stevenson is the former editor of the Whitman County Gazette, Colfax Daily Bulletin and Franklin Connection. He has nearly 30 years of journalism experience covering news in Eastern Washington.
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