Got your hackles up about the chicken vote?
If there's a chicken-shaped void in your life after Monday's Janesville City Council vote against allowing chickens in the city, I might be able to help.
(dips McNugget in sweet 'n' sour sauce)
It just so happens the Jefferson County Fairgrounds is hosting a pet swap this Saturday (the 27th) from 7am to noon at the activity center there. Contact Pete Dempsey 920/674-3871 for more information on the types of animals at the swap.
Even though you might not be able to bring the chickens home with you, browsing the variety of chickens might be a good experience if you hope to someday raise them.
(The Jefferson Swap is also where I conned my dad into getting a puppy. The dog was $15 and my dad grumbled all the way back to Delavan that it was the most he's ever paid for a dog.)
Of course, the county fairs are coming up this summer. Maybe there's a 4H or FFA member who wants to show off their poultry projects while they're raising them. I bet the UW-Extension office would be able to put you on the right path.
If you're just in it for the egg or meat production, you could take Councilwoman Kathy Voskuil's suggestion and shop the Janesville Farmer's market this summer.
Or, if you're into having birds in your yard, maybe you could start planning a hummingbird or butterfly garden. Identifying birds in your backyard could be an entertaining hobby as well.
Don't worry, spring chickens! There are brighter days ahead!
Feb 23, 2010 at 1:27 p.m.
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Beth I wish I could make it to the Jefferson Swap, but will have to wait until Elkorn has theirs...4H fun cat show this weekend at the fairgrounds. So I must miss this years swap at Jefferson. Let us know what you find there.
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Seriously these swaps are fun and interesting to go to...I never come home with empty cages. You could see puppies, kittens, pigeons, ducks, geese, hamsters, chinchillas, ferrets and oh so much more. Even if you are not looking for a pet or live stock, it is a fun morning for the family.
Feb 23, 2010 at 1:23 p.m.
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Luckily I live just outside city limits, and with that said I have 25 baby chicks being raised in my basement at this very moment. They are not smelly, nor are they what one would consider noisy. We raise them for 4H and I plan on keeping a few hens around for eggs, then perhaps the stew pot. Chickens seem to be way easier to raise than the turkeys we raised the same way a few years ago LOL.
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If there are any kids that are interested in joining the 4H poultry project, but can't have them at their house. I know of several farmers and chiken hobbiest who would agree to a managerial program. That is where the kids raise the poultry, clean the coops and all the other fun stuff at someonesles home. Then when fair time comes around they get to show the birds at the fair. In many instances the owners allow the youth to sell and keep any money earned in the fur & feather sale. If you want more info please email me.
Feb 23, 2010 at 11:57 a.m.
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Janesville Chickens:
on Twitter: COJchickens
on Facebook: City Of Janesville Chickens?
on e-mail: CityOfJanesvilleChickens@Gmail.com
on WordPress: http://cojchickens.wordpress.com/
(Wordpress includes the link to my Google Documents)
Feb 23, 2010 at 11:12 a.m.
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Ok, commenters. Deep breath. Focus.
What are you going to do to get your poultry fix? Raise them anyway? Go to KFC? If raising birds is something you'd really like to do, I'd honestly like to hear other methods for being a poultry enthusiast. For me, it's visiting my family's farm. Shovel out a few pens and I'm good for MONTHS.
You can only have the council vote (ahem) stuck in your craw for so long. Just sayin.
Feb 23, 2010 at 11:06 a.m.
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Perhaps if one could teach the chickens to play hockey, they would be welcome?
Feb 23, 2010 at 10:39 a.m.
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My cousin has about six chickens on a small lot in another state. They are quiet, didn't fly around, didn't smell. They did scratch up the yard as he only put them away during the night. Other than scratching up the yard, they took work feeding and supplying the correct suppliments and collecting the eggs ect. One thing them chickens did do was eat bugs...lots of them too. With the problem of japanease beatles in janesville, I bet the birds would chow down them bugs. I don't think the chickens would be such a problem but I don't think it's something someone needs. If the neighbor kept their property picked up and neat, I don't think four chickens would be an issue. (just so I could use the birds to eat my beatles!)
Feb 23, 2010 at 10:22 a.m.
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This will just drive people underground. They will set up grow rooms in their basements. Armed gangs will start roaming our neighborhoods trying to sell the chickens.
I can just see it now:
"..Janesville PD nabbed two chicken growers today. They had setup an elaborate grow room in their basement. The value of the crop is estimated at $10.95."
/s
Feb 23, 2010 at 10:10 a.m.
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SarahB1....you're right! The Council was absolutely wrong on this one and only perpetuated emotional myths rather than demonstrate any real leadership. Make sure you LET THEM KNOW your opinion and please THANK McDonald & Rashkin for their demonstration of logic and common-sense for the betterment of Janesville.
Feb 23, 2010 at 7:29 a.m.
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BETH!!! Is that a picture of a MONKEY?????? LOL. I am just going to keep saying this, over and over: There is NO valid reason to not allow hens in Janesville. If every naysayer had been allowed to state their concerns as a question, and have that question answered, there would have been nothing left to say. Every time a naysayer opened their mouth, I wanted to raise my hand, and say: "OoooOohh! Call on me!! Pick ME!! I know the answer!!!" There is so much FEAR of hens. WHY? That is the question I CANNOT answer.
Feb 23, 2010 at 4:47 a.m.
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I'm going to consult Foghorn Leghorn before making an official response.
Feb 23, 2010 at 4:12 a.m.
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I still think the Council is wrong on this issue.
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