Congratulations to the grassroots group Cedar Rapids Citizens for the Legalization of Urban Chickens, which helped convince a majority of City Council members to approve a one-year trial period for allowing backyard chickens. Todd Dorman of the Cedar Rapids Gazette described the group’s “pleasantly pushy” lobbying strategy. Local advocates, take note!

Many municipalities, including Des Moines, allow people to keep hens for eggs within city limits. I’ve never heard of a public nuisance problem. The main issue for the chicken owners is keeping predators away from their hens at night. Click here for more information on the benefits of keeping chickens in urban environments.

I’m glad the majority of Cedar Rapids Council members were open to persuasion and agreed to a reasonable trial period for the chickens. Not all city leaders are so willing to give new ideas a try.