Cluck all you want to, but chicken coops are a good thing

It may not be the most popular trend for some of us, but the council did the right thing in allowing residents to set up chicken coops.
Last week the council adopted a new pet animal ordinance that included chicken coops.
We understand the concern of some that this will become a public nuisance, particularly the perceived noise and waste. Yes, Hamtramck yards are pretty small and cramped, and it may seem counter-intuitive to allow chickens in the backyard.
But this is a controlled environment, and the law does not allow roosters, which make most of the noise in the chicken world.
Those who have coops will have to obey strict hygiene requirements.
Yes, we know that the major concern was about the city’s ability to regulate this and crack down on offenders. The city’s history in code enforcement has been spotty at best.
At times the city has come down hard on enforcement while at other times it has been hands off. Hamtramck needs to get a consistent policy in place and begin to enforce the laws.
No exceptions.
If you are a homeowner, one of the responsibilities is to keep your property up to code. If you can’t afford to do so, then you should not be a homeowner in the first place. It’s that simple.
While to some the idea of chicken coops seems out of place in a city, it’s quite the opposite.
There is a growing movement and acceptance of allowing people to grow their own food – including fresh eggs. Properly done, raising a small number of chickens in a proper coop will not create foul odors or attract rats.
Many communities are catching on to this trend, which if you think about it, is something that we used to allow many years ago when folks needed to save money by growing their own food.
This is a healthy trend that we should all embrace. And for you naysayers, hopefully you will have a neighbor who installs a chicken coop and is willing to share his or her eggs with you.